David L. Neilson is now in his ninth year as Commissioner of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association; having been appointed in the summer of 2002. He is the eighth person to lead the nation’s
oldest collegiate conference.

Neilson is a 1966 graduate of MIAA member Albion College, where he majored in physical education and economics, and lettered four years in football at quarterback. In his senior year, he achieved All-American recognition and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He also received post-graduate credits in marketing from the University of Pittsburgh and Lehigh University.

Neilson spent his professional career as an executive in the automotive parts industry, most of it at Rockwell International. While working in the corporate world, he found time to be involved in athletics as a coach; administrator and official. Neilson has coaching experience in the majority of sports sponsored by the MIAA.

Additionally, Neilson has served as a visiting lecturer in marketing at Oakland University, where he also served on its Marketing Advisory Council; was a founding member of the NCAA Division III’s Committee on
Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct; and is currently a member of the NCAA Division III Strategic Planning and Finance Committee.

Neilson resides in Royal Oak with his wife, Karen. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Commissioners of the MIAA

Clark Heeron, 1922-1931
James Hasselman, 1931-1933
DeGay Ernst, 1933-1961
Win Schuler, Sr., 1961-1965
John Hoekje, 1965-1971
Albert Deal, 1971-1991
Sheila Wallace-Kovalchik, 1991-2002
David Neilson, 2002-present