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Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 273-6338
Brad Nelson finished his 25th season with the Panthers after the 2024-25 season. He was named Associate Head Coach in June 2016 and works primarily with the Panther offense and also assists with scouting, recruiting, and all facets of practice.
Last season, The Panthers set a UNI record with 2,519 points and 934 field goals made in 34 games. The Panthers went 17-17 on the season and 11-9 in conference play including the program's first victory over a top-10 opponent with an 87-75 victory against no. 8 Iowa State inside the McLeod Center. The Panthers accepted their first invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament and competed in Gainsville, Florida in the first round of the 2025 WBIT.
In the 2023-24 season, the UNI offense recorded the second-highest single-season point total (at the time) in UNI history with 2,349 points over its 32 games. UNI went 16-16 on the season with the fourth-toughest NET non-conference strength of schedule and 14-6 in MVC play. The Panthers fell in an overtime matchup in the semifinals of Hoops in the Heartland but participated in their ninth straight postseason with a WNIT bid.
In the 2022-23 season, UNI had their first back-to-back 20+ win seasons since 2015-2017. UNI went 23-10 in 2022-23 while making it to the semifinal round of the MVC Championship Tournament Hoops in the Heartland. The Panthers also made their 8th straight postseason appearance with a run in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
In 2021-22 the Panthers earned their first 20+ win season since 2018-19. UNI ended the season at 23-11 following an appearance in the Hoops in the Heartland championship game and the WNIT. The Panthers also set new season records for points scored and assists made.
In 2020-21, UNI qualified for the WNIT and reached the semifinals after winning the Rockford Region championship. The Panthers registered their 13th consecutive season at .500 or better in Missouri Valley Conference play and their 12th year in a row finishing in the top half of the league standings. UNI also set new program records in three-pointers per game and three-point rate.
In 2019-20, the Panthers won games against three Power-Five schools and defeated Iowa, Iowa State, and Drake in the same season for the first time in program history. The Panthers were on the verge of the 10th postseason trip in 11 seasons before the season was cut short on the eve of the Hoops in the Heartland.
Nelson joined the Panther coaching staff in the 2000-01 season. He has been with the Panthers during all three NCAA Tournament appearances (2010, 2011, 2017) and each of their eight WNIT appearances (2001, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021).
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 2016. He served as recruiting coordinator from 2001-12, and he has helped sign MVC All-Conference selections Cassie Hager, Tara King, Jessie Biggs, Lizzie Boeck, Madison Weekly, and the 20112013 Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year Jacqui Kalin.
Nelson has played an integral part in UNI’s winning tradition, leading the Panthers to 12 consecutive seasons with at least 17 victories through the 2020-21 campaign. Working primarily with the offense, he coached point guard Madison Weekly and Amber Sorenson to Top-20 national rankings in three-pointers scored along with the Panthers finishing in the Top 10 in the country in fewest total 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 semifinals of the Class 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 has 4 children. Bailey (26) married to Nick Stewart. Jacob (24) married to Adelyn, Brandon (24), & JJ (19). He has one grandson, Carson, born in May of 2023.
