For more than a decade, Jeff Nelson was the steady hand and passionate leader behind the growth of University of Sioux Falls tennis. A proud Cougar himself, Nelson graduated Magna Cum Laude from USF in 1982 with a degree in English and Health & Physical Education before stepping into coaching. He began with the Cougar women’s program from 1983–85 and later returned in 1995 to guide both the men’s and women’s teams for the next 10 years.
During his tenure, Nelson transformed USF tennis into a force at both the conference and national levels. His teams combined for three conference championships with a men’s
title in 2004 and 2005 and a women’s crown in 2005 and made five trips to the NAIA National Championships in an eight-year span. Along the way, USF student-athletes collected more than 40 All-Conference honors and individual accolades, highlighted by GPAC Player of the Year, Jesse Young.
Nelson’s ability to inspire his players and elevate their game earned him widespread respect throughout the region. He was honored as NAIA Region Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004, Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year in 2005, and co-Coach of the Year for women’s tennis that same season. In addition, he collected four GPAC Coach of the Year awards across both programs from 2002–2005.
Through his leadership, Nelson helped establish a championship tradition for USF Tennis that lives on long after his final match. His legacy at the University of Sioux Falls is defined not only by wins and honors but also by the countless players he mentored and the lasting mark he left on the program. Nelson currently resides in Sioux Falls, SD with his wife Muriel, a 1989 USF graduate.
