Feb. 17, 2005
WACO, Texas - Nicole Nelson, who has served as the head soccer coach at Stephen F. Austin for the past three seasons, has joined the Baylor soccer program as an assistant coach Bears head coach George Van Linder announced Thursday. Nelson joins the Baylor staff after posting a record of 33-19-9 in three years as the Ladyjacks head coach.
"We are thrilled to have someone of Nicole's caliber at Baylor," head coach George Van Linder said. "Stephen F. Austin experienced its most successful seasons in program history under her leadership. To have someone with her experience and ability on the staff is a great advantage."
While at Stephen F. Austin, Nelson was a two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year selection. After being named SLC Coach of the Year in 2003, Nelson won her second straight award after guiding the Ladyjacks to the 2004 SLC regular-season title, the first title for the school since 1998. Under Nelson, the Ladyjacks finished the 2004 campaign with a record of 11-5-3.
Under her guidance in 2004, nine Ladyjacks were named to the All-SLC team, including four first-team selections. Four Ladyjacks were named to the Academic All-SLC team, including three first-team selections as the team also had six athletes receive SLC Player of the Week honors throughout the year.
In 2003, the Nelson-led Ladyjacks recorded a school-record 15 victories. During the season, the Ladyjacks also established a new school-record with nine shutout wins. Nelson guided the team to a Southland Conference regular-season runner-up finish and was named the 2003 SLC Coach of the Year. The Ladyjacks entered the SLC tournament as the No. 2 seed and knocked off top-seed Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference Championship game to earn the school's first trip to the NCAA Championships.
In her first season as the head coach of the Ladyjacks, SFA finished the season with a 7-9-4 (.450) overall record and a 4-4-4 (.500) Southland Conference mark.
While at the helm of the Stephen F. Austin program, 22 Ladyjacks received All-Southland Conference honors, including five first-team selections. Throughout the course of her career, the Ladyjacks have received 22 Southland Conference Player of the Week awards as well.
Prior to becoming the head coach, Nelson joined the Ladyjack coaching staff in 2001 as an assistant coach. During her first season on campus, she helped lead the Ladyjacks to one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in the country, as SFA followed up a 4-12-2 (.278) campaign in 2000 with a 10-8-1 (.553) record. The Ladyjacks also returned to the SLC tournament, battling eventual tournament champion Southwest Texas to double overtime before falling.
Prior to her arrival in Nacogdoches, Nelson was a graduate assistant for the Oklahoma City University women's team. During her time in Oklahoma, Nelson coached at both the high school and club levels. She guided both the Shockers '82 and the Shockers '85 to state cup appearances. Nelson helped lead the Mustang High School varsity team to the state playoffs. She was also the head coach for the Girls European Tour Team, where she coached matches in England, Wales and Scotland, recording a perfect 14-0 record.
During the summers of 1995-2001, Nelson was senior coach for Brian Harvey's American Youth Soccer Camp. She has also worked with the SMU, Texas A&M and Centenary Camps.
During her collegiate career, Nelson played as a freshman at Texas A&M before transferring back to her native Oklahoma to play for Oklahoma City University. She served as a captain two out of her three years at OCU as she received All-American, all-region and all-conference honors as a player. She currently holds a USSF "B" License.
Nelson replaces Jean Donaldson, who resigned from Baylor last month after two seasons in the position.
