Staff Directory
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties Coach
- Email:
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
High School: Timber Creek HS
College: Midwestern State
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2023-present: SFA | Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties
2022: SFA | Special Teams Coordinator / Outside Linebackers
2020-21: SFA | Safeties
2019: SFA | Cornerbacks
2018: Midwestern State | Defensive Backs Assistant
Nik Nelson enters his eighth season at Stephen F. Austin in 2026 and his fifth as the Lumberjacks’ special teams coordinator. Nelson continues to coach SFA’s safeties, a position group he has overseen during six of his eight seasons in Nacogdoches. Since joining the program in January 2019, Nelson has coached the cornerbacks, safeties and outside linebackers in addition to directing the special teams units. During his tenure, SFA has captured Western Athletic Conference and Southland Conference championships and made two appearances in the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Nelson’s special teams and safeties played significant roles in SFA’s championship season in 2025. The Lumberjacks finished 11-3, completed an 8-0 Southland schedule, captured the program’s fifth Southland championship and advanced to the national quarterfinals. At the conclusion of the regular season, SFA ranked second nationally in total defense, third in rushing and scoring defense, second in third-down defense and fourth in red-zone defense.
The Lumberjacks allowed only 183.1 passing yards per game and 14 passing touchdowns while intercepting 14 passes. Safety Saco Alofipo recorded 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Chance Sautter added 23 tackles and a forced fumble, while Rayden Campbell and Makali McKellar contributed 14 tackles apiece.
SFA’s special teams led the FCS in punt-return average during the regular season while ranking seventh nationally in net punting and eighth in punt-return defense. Bugs Mortimer led the nation with a 21.5-yard punt-return average, 537 punt-return yards and four touchdowns. His 537 yards established SFA and Southland single-season records.
Mortimer was named a Stats Perform First-Team FCS All-American, First-Team All-Southland returner, Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and a two-time Southland Special Teams Player of the Week. Freshman punter Lachie Pozzobon earned Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America recognition, and long snapper Tug Sanford was selected First-Team All-Southland. Placekicker Carlos Alvarado and kickoff returner Richard Reese earned second-team all-conference honors, while Kylon Harris received Southland Special Teams Player of the Week recognition after returning a punt for a touchdown.
Nelson’s safety room was instrumental in SFA’s defensive improvement in 2024. The Lumberjacks led the Southland in scoring defense, allowing 17.8 points per game, while limiting opponents to a 54.3 completion percentage. SFA collected 17 interceptions, forced 28 turnovers and held opponents to 118 rushing yards per game.
Jaheim Mullen developed into one of SFA’s leading defensive playmakers, finishing with 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His four interceptions led the team, including three over a two-game stretch against Northwestern State and Lamar. Mullen also earned a place on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
On special teams, Chris Campos converted all 51 of his extra-point attempts and 18-of-21 field goals, with each of his three misses coming from 50 yards or longer. Campos scored 105 points and completed his career as SFA’s record holder in points, extra points and field goals. His 86 career field goals tied him for second in FCS history. He was named First-Team All-Southland, Associated Press Second-Team FCS All-American and Stats Perform Third-Team FCS All-American.
Nelson returned to coaching the safeties in 2023 after working with the outside linebackers the previous season. T.Kai Lloyd produced 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Lloyd entered the season as a Phil Steele Second-Team Preseason All-UAC selection and was later named to the FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team.
Dylan Tooker added 33 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, while Triumphant Olatunji contributed an interception and two pass breakups. The three safeties combined for five of SFA’s nine interceptions during the season.
Campos continued his record-setting career by converting 17-of-24 field goals and all 36 extra-point attempts while leading SFA with 87 points. He established program career records for field goals and points and received fourth-team All-UAC recognition. Nelson’s special teams also received two blocked kicks from First-Team All-UAC defensive lineman Edward Bobino III.
Nelson assumed leadership of SFA’s special teams and coached the outside linebackers in 2022, helping the Lumberjacks capture the WAC championship. Three of his special teams performers earned All-WAC recognition. Xavier Gipson was selected First-Team All-WAC as a return specialist, Campos earned first-team honors at placekicker and Max Quick was voted Second-Team All-WAC at punter.
Campos, the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, made 18 field goals and earned conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors after converting a game-winning 51-yard field goal against Abilene Christian. Gipson added two punt-return touchdowns and also received WAC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
Before moving into the coordinator role, Nelson coached SFA’s safeties during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Lumberjacks finished 8-4 in 2021, made their first FCS playoff appearance since 2014 and concluded the season ranked in both major national polls. SFA intercepted 15 passes and held opposing quarterbacks to a 55.9 completion percentage.
Myles Heard earned First-Team All-WAC recognition after leading the Lumberjacks with 69 tackles and four forced fumbles. He also tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries and added three pass breakups. T.Kai Lloyd contributed 29 tackles, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble and was selected Second-Team All-WAC as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back.
SFA posted a 6-4 record during the 2020 fall campaign, earning the program’s first winning season since 2011 while going unbeaten against FCS opponents. Nelson’s safeties produced two First-Team All-Southland selections in Heard and Lloyd. Heard registered 50 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups, while Lloyd collected 54 tackles, an interception, a sack and a pass breakup. The Lumberjacks led the Southland in pass-efficiency defense, interceptions and takeaways while ranking second in scoring and total defense.
Nelson began his SFA tenure coaching the cornerbacks in 2019. Freshman Willie Roberts emerged as one of the conference’s top young defensive backs and earned Third-Team All-Southland recognition during Nelson’s first season in Nacogdoches.
Prior to arriving at SFA, Nelson spent the 2018 season working with the defensive backs at his alma mater, Midwestern State. The Mustangs finished 8-2 and recorded 15 interceptions. The secondary produced three first- or second-team All-Lone Star Conference selections. Safety Sir’Vell Ford earned first-team honors, while cornerback DaMarcus Wilson and safety Josh Wydermyer received second-team recognition. Cornerback Jaydon Cunigan was named honorable mention All-LSC.
A Fort Worth, Texas, native, Nelson attended Timber Creek High School before continuing his education at Midwestern State.
