CHRIS NELSON SUMMER CAMPS

Chris Nelson enters his 20th season as head coach of the Bethel University women’s basketball program in 2025–26, carrying a career record of 428-214 and cementing his place among the winningest active coaches in the NAIA.

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Nelson’s 428 victories rank 13th among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Under his leadership, the Lady Wildcats have produced 12 seasons of 20 or more wins and have qualified for 13 NAIA National Tournaments (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013–2020, 2022, 2025).

 

Since the opening of Crisp Arena in 2012, Bethel has dominated at home, compiling a 174–41 record—an 81 percent winning rate on their home floor.

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On the national stage, Nelson continues to shape the direction of women’s college basketball. He previously served eight years on the board of directors for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and currently serves as President of the NAIA/WBCA Executive Committee. He is also a member of the NAIA National Selection Committee.

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Nelson has earned significant national recognition throughout his career:

• Two-time NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year (2020, 2025)

• 2019–20 WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year (presented by Pivot Analysis)

• Four-time finalist for WBCA National Coach of the Year

• Five-time Conference Coach of the Year

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Nelson began his coaching career while still a sophomore in college at Yorkville School. He later served as an assistant at Gibson County High School under mentor Coach Scott Bowlin before spending five seasons as an assistant at Bethel under Coach Larry Eddings. During that stretch, Bethel advanced to consecutive NAIA Division II National Tournaments in 2005 and 2006.

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A 2004 graduate of Bethel with a degree in history, Nelson and his wife, Jennifer—a teacher at McKenzie Middle School—reside in McKenzie.