Mike Nelson Coaching History
2019-2024: Monmouth University - Director of Track & Field/Cross-Country
2007-2019: Marquette University - Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track & Field Coach
2005-2007: Saint Louis University - Head Track & Field/Cross-Country Coach
2003-2005: Emporia State University - Graduate Assistant Track & Field/Cross-Country Coach
1999-2003: Truman State University - Student-Athlete / Exercise Science major.
Mike Nelson joined the Monmouth University Athletics Department on August 12, 2019, as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. He came to the Jersey Shore following 12 years as the head cross country coach at Marquette University, in addition to his role as assistant track & field coach.
After leading the Hawks through their first two seasons in the CAA, Nelson guided a pair of student-athletes to Conference Player of the Year honors, with Dalton Yeust winning the indoor field award in 2022-23 and Evan Niedrowski taking the outdoor field honors in 2023. The men’s team has finished second twice and third twice at the CAA Championships, while the women have placed eighth all four times. Keven Kevelier took the lone postseason award by winning the 2023 Men’s Most Outstanding Field Athlete at the CAA Indoor Championships.
In the past three seasons, Nelson sent a Hawk to the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary Round a total of 12 times, including multiple trips from Veronica Chainov and Evan Niedrowski. Chainov has been a regional participant twice in addition to her three consecutive Israeli national titles in the high jump, while Niedrowski was a Second Team All-American for the second consecutive season after finishing 12th overall in the nation with a javelin throw of 71.85m at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Most recently, Yasmeen Tinsley was a national quarter-finalist in the 400m hurdles in 2024, with Chainov, Chris Bagnell, and Taylor Boorse each making their second career regional appearance.
In the cross country realm, Emily Simko was named the 2023 CAA Women’s Rookie of the Year, and Declan McDonnell was an All-Mid-Atlantic Region runner when he finished 17th at the postseason event. Both were named to their respective All-CAA teams.
In addition, he has seen a total of 26 new school and freshman records as the competition continues to rise league wide.
Nelson’s most decorated season arguably came in 2021-22. Throughout the course of the academic year, 10 new school records, 13 new freshman records, along with many new all-time top-tens were set. He oversaw Sammi Ragenklint who became the first-ever Hawk to qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in the fall, where she ultimately finished 87th out of 255 competitors. The men’s cross-country team finished second at the MAAC Championships while the women placed fourth.
Nelson was named the MAAC Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year on both the men’s and women’s sides after his teams both took home indoor conference titles in late February. Yasmeen Tinsley was named the women's Track Rookie of the Meet, while Keven Kevelier took home two awards as he was named the Field Most Outstanding Performer in addition to the men's Field Rookie of the Meet. Overall, the two teams combined for nine gold medals over the two days and set 16 new all-time top-tens.
The third-year head coach was named the MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year for both the men and the women as both teams went out on top in their final year in the conference, placing first at the MAAC Championships in May. Keven Kevelier was recognized as the Men's Field Most Outstanding Performer, while Yasmeen Tinsley earned Track Rookie of the Meet honors. The men and women combined for 11 gold medals and 15 new all-time top-tens over the course of the MAAC Championships.
Four Hawks—Veronica Chainov, Mohamed Diagouraga, Evan Niedrowski, and Danielle Steff—qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Round. Niedrowski proceeded to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where he earned Second Team All-American honors as a freshman, finishing 11th in the javelin throw. He also won the gold medal at the USA Track and Field U20 Championships with a mark of 70.58m, qualifying for the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Since his start, Nelson has led the Hawks to three conference titles including the 2020 Men’s Indoor MAAC Championship, 2021 Men’s Outdoor MAAC Championship, and 2021Women’s Outdoor MAAC Championship. Nelson also led Monmouth’s men’s cross-country team to their highest finish ever at the 2020 MAAC Cross Country Championships.
During his tenure at Marquette, the Golden Eagles captured the women’s 2016 and 2017 Big East Indoor and Outdoor Team Championships, as well as the men’s 2016 and 2018 Big East Outdoor Team Championships. Nelson’s men’s cross country squad earned the Big East Academic Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018. Nelson has overseen multiple Marquette record holders on the track, in addition to several top-freshman marks. Five of his student-athletes have earned All-Great Lakes Region recognition in cross country and he has mentored student-athletes to 16 NCAA First Round West Regional/Mid-East Regional appearances.
Under Nelson's guidance, Marquette has hosted the BIG EAST Conference Cross Country Championships on three occasions (2009, 2013 and 2017) as he played a lead role in winning the bid to host a conference championships. Academically, Nelson’s student-athletes have earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors seven times, and four CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
Prior to his arrival at Marquette, Nelson spent two years at Saint Louis University where he was hired as the head cross country coach in 2005, and then founded the track and field program in the Spring of 2006. The Billikens encountered immediate success in both competition and the classroom, competing as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Before arriving at Saint Louis, Nelson spent two years as a graduate assistant for the Emporia State University cross country and track and field teams. He also worked with Emporia State's distance runners on the track and field team and served as the recruiting coordinator. Nelson helped lead the Emporia State men to a second-place finish at the 2004 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Cross Country Championships. His student-athletes won the men's 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter runs at the 2005 MIAA Outdoor Championships as ESU finished second in the team standings. Nelson coached women's school-record holders in the distance medley relay, the indoor 1,000 meter and a national qualifier in the 1,500 meter.
A 2003 graduate of Truman State University, Nelson was a four-time All-MIAA performer for the Bulldogs. He competed in the NCAA Division II cross country national championships as a junior and senior, and helped his team to a fourth-place finish in 2001 and a 14th-place finish in 2002 at the national meet. Nelson graduated cum laude from Truman State with a degree in exercise science. He earned his master's degree in physical education from Emporia State in 2005 and completed a master’s degree in leadership studies from Marquette in 2018.
Nelson has his USA Track & Field Level I and II (endurance) Certification and earned his USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist certification in July 2011.
Nelson is married to the former Cassandra (Cassie) Peller, and the couple has three children, Brooke, Wesley and Lori.
