NELSON QUICK FACTS
- CSP Assistant Coach, 2019 & 2022
- CSP Head Coach, 2020 & 2021
- 8-9 career record as head coach (2 seasons)
- #25 IWLCA Top-25 finish in 2020
- #16 Nike / US Lacrosse final ranking in 2020
- Accounting & Finance major, Saint John's University
Appointed on an interim basis just prior to the start of the 2020 season, Joe Nelson was named the program's third head coach following a top-25 run in a shortened seven game season that same spring. He led the program for two years, producing an 8-9 overall record across two pandemic-shortened seasons in 2020 and 2021 before stepping into an assistant role to pursue outside professional opportunities while remaining with the program as an assistant coach.
In Concordia's fourth season as an NCAA Division II varsity program in 2020, Nelson and the Golden Bears set a program record for best start to a season (4-0), longest home winning streak (5, with 1 win carried over from 2019), first win over a nationally-ranked IWLCA DII team and first national ranking as the program finished the year #25 in the IWLCA DII Coaches Poll and #16 in the Nike / US Lacrosse Top-20. In the Nike / US Lacrosse Poll, CSP was ranked for three consecutive weeks, reaching as high as #14.
Prior to being named head coach, Nelson worked with the program’s goalies as an assistant in the past, helping the team’s performance in the cage produce a program-best .447 save percentage and 11.06 goals against average in 2019, which continued to improve in 2020.
The Golden Bears ranked 20th in the country with a .491 save percentage and 16th in scoring defense, allowing 8.0 goals per game to its strongest non-conference schedule in team history in 2020.
In addition to his work with CSP, Nelson is the founder of TCM Lacrosse, a goalie exclusive lacrosse organization focused on the growth and develop of youth and high school goalies throughout the Midwest. His work has included consulting with local high school teams, youth associations and travel clubs on talent strategies, defensive formations and goalie development programs.
Aside from his lacrosse work, Nelson is a sales consultant for LinkedIn Corporation. He has been a consistent Top Performer + Club winner with LinkedIn and has devoted his consulting business to helping firms develop their go-to market digital sales & marketing strategies.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Saint John’s University where he was a four-time All-American lacrosse player.
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