Dan Nieves, a teacher at Taylorville Junior High accepted the position of Assistant Girl’s Track Coach at Taylorville High School in1996, assisting Head Coach Sarah Marsaglia for two years before becoming the head coach in 1998.

Under his tutelage, the girls track program grew, not only in numbers, but as a force to be reckoned with in the Central State Eight Conference.  Guiding the talented athletes on the team, Nieves provided leadership and technical training that provided five girls to qualify for the IHSA State Track meet in his first two years.

In 2008 Nieves goal was not only to improve the naturally skilled athletes on the team, but to recruit and develop girls to build a team that could compete not only in duel meets, but against some of the strongest teams in central Illinois at the bigger Open and Invitational meets.

In 2004, Nieves inaugurate the girl’s participation in competing indoors.  This increased competition, began showing dividends in the outdoor program immediately.

In 2005 the Freshmen/Sophomore ladies were champions of the Springfield Capitol City Frosh/Soph Invitational.  The varsity captured first place in the Redskin Open in 2005, 2006 and 2008.  Dan Nieves developed a sustainable program that was competitive year in and year out. And in 2008, the Tornadoes finished a highest ever, 4th place in the Central State Conference Track Meet, arguably the toughest track conference in downstate Illinois.

During his tenure as head coach, Dan Nieves guided the girls of the Taylorville High School Track Team to establishing seventeen new individual outdoor records.

Nieves guided eight girls to become Central State Eight Conference Champions; thirty girls to become Decatur Area Best qualifiers and eighteen girls to participate in the Springfield Honor Roll Classic. 

Not only did the Taylorville girls have success in the local area, but during his seventeen years as head coach, three girls qualified for the IHSA Indoor State meet and thirteen girls became state qualifiers through their performance at the IHSA sectional meets with two, Allison Curtin and Claire Nolen bring home a total of seven medals. 

To quote from his nomination, “beyond the tangible records was Dan’s approach and philosophy of coaching young ladies.  He understood they had many interests and allowed them to pursue other areas (work, music, academics, etc.) while also using their talents in track and field.  He respected their time and allowed them to participate without placing unrealistic demands on them.  The girls flourished under his guidance and created lifetime memories from their THS track and field experiences.