For Immediate Release
March 31, 2020
Bethel University (TN) Head Women’s Basketball Coach Chris Nelson has been named as the WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year presented by Pivot Analysis for the 2019-20 college basketball season. Nelson qualified for the award by being named as the HoopDirt.com/Pivot Analysis Coach of the Week for Week 16 of the season.
Coach Nelson guided Bethel University to a 29-4 season, finishing off the campaign ranked No. 6 in the final NAIA DI Coaches’ Top-25 Poll. The Lady Wildcats closed out the season on a 21-game winning streak – the second longest in program history. Bethel was 15-0 at home on the year, and is now 122-15 at home during Nelson’s tenure.
Coach Nelson’s squad captured the SSAC regular season title, going 15-1 in league play. The Lady Wildcats most recently defeated Martin Methodist 65-59 to claim the SSAC Tournament championship. They would have been making their 8th straight national tournament appearance.
For his efforts this season, Nelson was named the NAIA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year. Nelson also picked up his 300th career victory this year, defeating Stillman College 76-38 on January 2nd. In his 14-year career as a head coach, he has compiled a record of 317-142.
The complete list of previous Coach of the Year winners as well as this year’s Coach of the Week recipients can be found below.
Previous HoopDirt.com Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2019-20: To be announced Friday 4/4
Division II
- 2019-20: To be announced Thursday 4/3
Division III
- 2019-20: To be announced Wednesday 4/2
NAIA
- 2019-20: Chris Nelson – Bethel University (TN)
JUCO
- 2019-20: Cayla Petree – South Plains College (TX)
2019-20 HoopDirt.com / Pivot Analysis Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
NCAA DII: Justin Payne – Georgia Southwestern State University
NCAA DIII: Melissa Kuberka – St. John Fisher College (NY)
NAIA: Courtney Boyd – Clarke University (IA)
JUCO: Bart Walker – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: Dawn Plitzuweit – University of South Dakota
NCAA DII: Lynsey Warren – Ohio Dominican University
NCAA DIII: Kristina Baugh – UMass-Boston
NAIA: Dan Waldeck – The Master’s University (CA)
JUCO: Mark Leszczyk – Massasoit Community College (MA)
NCAA DI: Karl Smesko – Florida Gulf Coast University
NCAA DII: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – New Your University
NAIA: Jeff Hans – Thomas More University (KY)
JUCO: Cayla Petree – South Plains College (TX)
NCAA DI: Bethann Shapiro Ord – Binghamton University
NCAA DII: Molly Miller – Drury University (MO)
NCAA DIII: Andy Yosinoff – Emmanuel College (MA)
NAIA: Steve Williamson – William Penn University (IA)
JUCO: Kim Muhl – Kirkwood Community College (IA)
NCAA DI: Gary Blair – Texas A&M University
NCAA DII: Missy Traversi – Adelphi University (NY)
NCAA DIII: Mahogany Green – Hamilton College (NY)
NAIA: K.C. Bassett – Sterling College (KS)
JUCO: Stephanie Murphy – Coahoma Community College (MS)
NCAA DI: Karen Alston – University of Texas
NCAA DII: Deandra Schirmer – Valdosta State University (GA)
NCAA DIII: Nick DiPillo – University of Scranton (PA)
NAIA: Tim Hays – Southeastern University (FL)
JUCO: Marcilina Grayer – Salt Lake Community College (UT)
NCAA DI: Rebecca Tillett – Longwood University
NCAA DII: DII Winter Break Week – No Winner
NCAA DIII: Jill Pace – Tufts University (MA)
NAIA: Dennis Hutter – Mayville State University (ND)
JUCO: Mike Seney – Community College of Baltimore County – Essex
NCAA DI: Quentin Hillsman – Syracuse University
NCAA DII: Jason Burton – Texas A&M University – Commerce
NCAA DIII: G.P. Gromacki – Amherst College (MA)
NAIA: Hannah Moeller – Mid-American Christian University (OK)
JUCO: Mary “Roonie” Scovel – Gulf Coast State College (FL)
NCAA DI: Kim Mulkey – Baylor University
NCAA DII: Reid Takatsuka – Hawaii Pacific University
NCAA DIII: Jon Herbrechtsmeyer – Bethel University (MN)
NAIA: Sue Syljebeck – Siena Heights University (MI)
JUCO: Brian Ortmeier – Laramie County Community College (WY)
NCAA DI: Kelly Graves – University of Oregon
NCAA DII: James Rice – Benedict College (SC)
NCAA DIII: Jennifer Reimer – Case Western Reserve University (OH)
NAIA: Bo Overton – Oklahoma City University
JUCO: Dave Kragel – Walters State Community College (TN)
NCAA DI: Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
NCAA DII: Darrell Mosley – Lincoln University (PA)
NCAA DIII: Grahm Smith – William Peach University (NC)
NAIA: Jina Douglas – Hastings College (NE)
JUCO: Stacey Franklin – Chattanooga State Community College
NCAA DI: Raegan Pebley – TCU
NCAA DII: Kim Sgtephens – Glenville State College (WVa)
NCAA DIII: Trent Milby – Berea College (KY)
NAIA: Tory Wooley – Point University (GA)
JUCO: Derek Marchione – SUNY Sullivan
NCAA DI: Heather Oesterle – Central Michigan University
NCAA DII: AnnMarie Gilbert – Virginia Union University
NCAA DIII: Cameron Hill – Trinity University (TX)
NAIA: Irvin Jerry – Trinity International University (IL)
JUCO: Jay Hanley – Bristol Community College (RI)
NCAA DI: Jaida Williams – Coastal Carolina University
NCAA DII: Ryan McCarthy – University of Alaska Anchorage
NCAA DIII: Kim Wagers – Concordia College (MN)
NAIA: Stacy Stephens – Our Lady of the Lake University (TX)
JUCO: Marvin Evans – Howard Community College (MD)
NCAA DI: Denise Dillon – Drexel University
NCAA DII: Kaleena Coleman – Clayton State University (GA)
NCAA DIII: Chaia Huff – Edgewater College (WI)
NAIA: Anna Kowalski – West Virginia Tech
JUCO: Ornette Gardenhire – Lakeland Community College (OH)
NCAA DI: Carla Berube – Princeton University
NCAA DII: Tari Cummings – University of Arkansas Fort Smith
NCAA DIII: Chelle Fuss – Grove City College (PA)
NAIA: Chris Nelson – Bethel University (TN)
JUCO: Hana Haden – Moberly Area Community College (MO)
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