Vance Nilsson is moving on to the next phase of his career.
Nilsson, a Gilbert High alum who won a national title in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in June, has left the University of Florida and moved back to Arizona to pursue a professional career, Nilsson told The Arizona Republic.
Nilsson informed the school and coach Mike Holloway of his decision shortly after winning the title and is now back living in Gilbert.
Recently, Nilsson signed with agent Alfons Jucks, who is based in Europe and represents a wide number of track and field athletes. Jucks is in the process of negotiating a shoe contract for Nilsson.
Nilsson said he’s been weighing the decision for some time now.
“I thought about it for a long time,
for probably six months-ish, and I would say it's one of the hardest decisions I've made in my life, definitely more than picking a school for college,” Nilsson said.
“And I'm still nervous about it. I won't know until the result of this decision comes out. I'm betting on myself and kind of just taking a little bit of risk here. Maybe this will turn out horribly, but this is just kind of what my gut has told me to do. And I want to live my life boldly. If I feel like doing something, then I'm going to do it.”
He recognizes that his decision may raise eyebrows in the track and field community.
“Other people may not understand it and that's OK,” Nilsson said. “I can understand looking at it from an outsider perspective and seeing how it might look illogical. But I'm just doing what's best for me, and ultimately what's going to make me the best is how I feel personally.”
In June, after Nilsson won the NCAA title, Holloway said: “As far as Vance goes, he had some personal things going on last year and I'm man enough to admit that I mismanaged his talent. We sat down, he gave me another chance and I'm glad he did because he showed the world who Vance Nilsson really is."
Nilsson said the move has nothing to do with Florida or coach Holloway.
“This is not at all a dig towards Florida,” Nilsson said. “I think Florida is the best track and field school in the nation. I think it's a great spot for people to go. They were great to me. They never did me wrong. I think I'm also just very picky and also just like, so passionate about this. Whatever I'm doing, I want to do it at the very best. And so that's why I'm doing this.”
At the moment, Nilsson is living with his mother, Lisa, but will soon be moving to an apartment in Mesa. He’ll be on his own financially, having to find ways to support himself as he tries to pursue his professional goals.
Nilsson, currently ranked No. 10 in the world and No. 3 in the United States for the 400-meter hurdles at 48.06 seconds, has ambitions of making the World Athletics Championships in 2027 and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. As a senior in 2024 after breaking the United States high school national record in the 300-meter hurdles, Nilsson competed at the United States Olympic Trials, almost making the finals as an 18-year-old.
Nilsson’s mom has already bought tickets for the 2028 Olympics.
In Arizona, Nilsson will be back training with Jayson Vazquez. In high school, Vazquez helped Nilsson as one of his personal coaches and made the trip when Nilsson won the 2024 Under-20 World Championship in Lima, Peru. The pair will be working out at Red Mountain High School. Vazquez’s son, Yan, is one of the top prep hurdlers in state history and just finished his college career at Arizona. The two will be training together in Mesa.
Vazquez can already hear the doubters, wondering how he compares to Holloway.
“We have discussed this many times, because yes, this is going to be the number one question, like, 'Who is this guy I've never heard of?'” Vazquez said. “I built the relationship with Vance, which I think speaks for itself, but from the outside in, you're always going to question, ‘Who is this guy? You know, he's not a collegiate coach, he hasn't done this.’''
But Vazquez noted he's been coaching for 30 years, but added, "It’s hard to convince people, though. It’s a great question.”
Vazquez has watched Nilsson go from relatively unknown to becoming one of the greatest athletes in state history. He saw Nilsson set goals in high school. Break the state record. Break the national record. Make the world championship team. Win the world championship.
And Nilsson checked off every single item. Nilsson wasn’t even fully healthy this past season and still walked away with an NCAA championship.
“You can't ever bet against Vance,” Vazquez said. “That's really it. Every goal that he has set so far he has cleared. You never bet against Vance when he has his mind set on something.”
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NCAA track champion leaves Florida, heads back to Arizona | Exclusive
