Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- brad.nelson@uni.edu
- Phone:
- 273-6338
Brad Nelson is entering his 17th season with the Panthers. He was named Associate Head Coach in June of 2016 and will work primarily with the Panther offense and also assist with scouting, recruiting and all facets of practice.
Nelson joined the Panther coaching staff in the 2000-01 season. He has been with the Panthers during both NCAA Tournament appearance (2010, 2011), and each of their six WNIT appearances (2001, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016).
Nelson has been a part of a coaching staff that has led UNI to new heights in the MVC, including the program’s two regular-season titles in 2011 and 2015. He served as recruiting coordinator from 2001-12, and he has helped sign MVC all-conference players Cassie Hager, Tara King, Jessie Biggs, Lizzie Boeck, Madison Weekly and the 2011/2013 MVC Player of the Year, Jacqui Kalin.
Nelson has played an integral part in UNI’s winning tradition, leading the Panthers to seven straight seasons with 17-or-more wins and all nine of their post-season appearances. Working primarily with the offense, he coached point guard Madison Weekly and Amber Sorenson to top-20 national rankings in three pointers scored in the last two seasons along with the Panthers finishing in the top-10 in the country in fewest turnovers and turnovers per game.
Prior to joining UNI, Nelson served as assistant head coach at Cedar Falls High School and helped lead the Tigers to back-to-back trips to the semi-finals of the 4A Iowa Girls Basketball State Tournament.
Prior to Cedar Falls, he served as an assistant coach at St. Ambrose University in 1995-96. That season, St. Ambrose won the regular and postseason conference titles on the way to a berth in the NAIA National Tournament.
While earning his business management degree from the University of Oregon, Nelson served as the head manager for the Ducks’ men’s basketball team under coaches Don Monson and Jerry Green.
Nelson and his wife, Jenny, have four children: 19-year-old daughter Bailey, 17-year-old twin sons Brandon and Jacob, and 12-year-old son Jordan.
