Jim Nelson - Football Coach

Jim Nelson

Title:
Defensive Quality Control
Email:
jamesnelson@mail.fresnostate.edu
Phone:
559-278-3015

THE NELSON FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
High School: Wheaton Warrenville South
Family
- Wife: Liv
- Daughter: Annie

EDUCATION
Drake
- Bachelors degree as a double major:
Marketing & Entrepreneurial Management (2009)
Central Missouri
- Masters in Kinesiology (2014)

COACHING HISTORY
Fresno State
2022-24: Nickelbacks
2020-21: Defensive Quality Control
Indiana
2017-19: Graduate Assistant
North Carolina State
2016: Graduate Assistant
South Florida
2015: Graduate Assistant

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Position: defensive End/Linebacker/Wide Receiver

2007-11: Drake

Last Updated: December 26, 2024

Jim Nelson spent five seasons on staff with Fresno State. He was a full-time defensive assistant coach from 2022-24 and a defensive quality control in 2020 and 2021. Nelson coached the nickelbacks. The announcement of Nelson to the full-time staff marked the first time in his coaching career that Nelson has been a full-time assistant coach.

Nelson had a room full of young talent in 2024, and saw a rotation of players play at his position. Nelson was a part of a coaching staff that had several players prepared to play different positions within the defense. RL Miller and Jakari Embry were the most consistent at the position, with safety Camryn Bracha and corner Al’zillion Hamilton filling in as well.

The collegiate career of Morice Norris Jr. ended on a high note as Nelson coached him to a second team All-Mountain West recognition in 2023. Norris Jr. led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss. He added single-season career-bests in tackles (59), sacks (3.5), interceptions (2), and pass breakups (10). He was third in the MW in passes defended. Norris Jr. went on to begin his professional career with the Detroit Lions.

Nelson helped coach a defense that ranked No. 2 in the MW and No. 20 in the FBS in turnovers gained with 33 on the season in 2023.

In year one as a full-time assistant coach, Nelson helped the Bulldogs to one of the most-memorable seasons in program history. Fresno State became the first program in FBS history to start the season 1-4, and finish with 10 wins. Fresno State ended the year on a nine-game winning streak, and won the 2022 Mountain West Championship and the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.

With a new position to the new defense brought in with defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, Nelson was tasked with getting his group up to speed at the new position. First-year Bulldog Morice Norris Jr. did just that, starting all 14 games and finishing the season fourth on the team with 57 total tackles, and adding 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, six broken up passes, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.

Previously, Nelson has had coaching stops at Indiana (2017-19), North Carolina State (2016), South Florida (2015), Central Missouri (2013-14) and Montana State (2012). The Wheaton, Ill. native has coaching experience with several defensive position groups.

Nelson served as a defensive graduate assistant at Indiana for three seasons, under the direction of head coach Tom Allen. Before joining the staff at Indiana, Nelson spent one season as a defensive graduate assistant with the defensive line at North Carolina State after a year in the same role at South Florida where he worked with Allen who served as the Bulls’ defensive coordinator that season (2015). While at USF, Nelson helped coach the safeties.

Nelson held a defensive graduate assistant position at Central Missouri for two years. While with the Mules, Nelson assisted in coaching the linebackers. He was also a special teams intern at Montana State in 2012.

Nelson was a four-year letterwinner at Drake (2007-11). With the Bulldogs, Nelson saw action on both sides of the ball as a defensive end and linebacker on defense, and a wide receiver on offense. He was named the 2011 Drake Football Community Service Captain.

Nelson earned his masters of science in kinesiology from Central Missouri in 2014. Earning his bachelors degree from Drake, Nelson double majored in marketing and entrepreneurial management. He earned that degree in 2011.

Nelson held a defensive graduate assistant position at Central Missouri for two years. While with the Mules, Nelson assisted in coaching the linebackers. He was also a special teams intern at Montana State in 2012.

Nelson was a four-year letterwinner at Drake (2007-11). With the Bulldogs, Nelson saw action on both sides of the ball as a defensive end and linebacker on defense, and a wide receiver on offense. He was named the 2011 Drake Football Community Service Captain.

Nelson earned his masters of science in kinesiology from Central Missouri in 2014. Earning his bachelors degree from Drake, Nelson double majored in marketing and entrepreneurial management. He earned that degree in 2011.

He and his wife Liv have one daughter, Annie.