Nelson Takes Over As Head Soccer Coach
1/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Jan. 16, 2002
Stephen F. Austin athletic director Steve McCarty announced today that Nicole Nelson has been named head coach of the Ladyjack soccer program. Nelson, an assistant with the team last season, takes over for former coach Lance Noble who resigned last month and has taken over as the director of soccer at Texas A&M International, in Laredo.
"We looked at several other possibilities and options and after a great deal of discussion and consideration, it became apparent that the right person to head up our soccer program was already here, in Nicole Nelson. Her familiarity with the team and the athletic department staff should allow her to make an easy adjustment from assistant to head coach," said McCarty.
Nelson joined the SFA staff prior to the 2001 season and helped the Ladyjacks to a 10-8-1 record and a fourth place finish in the Southland Conference. The fourth place finish was good enough to qualify the Ladyjacks for the post season tournament, where SFA fell to regular season champion Southwest Texas, 1-0.
The 1997 graduate of Oklahoma City University served as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater and also coached several club teams in Oklahoma prior to joining the SFA staff. She also spent time as a coach and trainer for the Girls '85 European Tour Team. She coached matches in England, Wales and Scotland and posted a perfect 14-0 record.
As a player, Nelson began her career at Texas A&M before transferring to OCU. As a three year letterwinner for Oklahoma City University, Nelson was also a three-time All-Sooner Conference selection and was twice named All-Region. She was also a three time Academic All-American as an undergraduate at OCU.
Nelson also served as a team captain as both a junior and senior and also earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1997.
She takes over a team that posted 10 wins a year ago and loses only four seniors.
