Chris Nelson

Head Women’s Basketball Coach

B.S., Bethel University, 2004

21st Season | 431-215 Career Record

Career Highlights

• 431-215 (.667) Career Record

• 209-122 (.631) Conference Record

• 2× NAIA Division I Coach of the Year

• WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year (2020)

• 4× WBCA Region Coach of the Year

• 4× SSAC Coach of the Year

• 1× TransSouth Conference Coach of the Year

• 16 NAIA National Tournament Appearances

• 1 NAIA Fab Four Appearance

• 4 NAIA Elite Eight Appearances

• 8 NAIA Sweet Sixteen Appearances

• 8 Conference Championships

• 2025-26 WBCA Academic Top 25 — No. 1 Team GPA in the NAIA

National Leadership & Service

• Secretary, NAIA/WBCA Executive Committee — Current

• President, NAIA/WBCA Executive Committee — 2025

• WBCA Board of Directors — 2018-2024

• NAIA Tournament Selection Committee — 2021-Present

• NAIA Rating Committee — 6 Seasons

• NAIA All-American Committee — 2012-Present

Biography

Coach Chris Nelson enters his 21st season as head coach of the Bethel University women’s basketball program in 2026-27, having established the Lady Wildcats as a consistent contender on the conference and national levels.

Nelson enters the season with a 431-215 (.667) career record and a 209-122 (.631) conference record. During his tenure, Bethel has made 16 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, highlighted by one Fab Four appearance, four Elite Eight appearances and eight Sweet Sixteen appearances. His teams have also captured eight conference championships.

The Lady Wildcats have enjoyed some of the program’s greatest success in recent seasons, advancing to the NAIA Fab Four in 2025 and following that with another deep postseason run to the NAIA Elite Eight in 2026.

Nelson’s accomplishments have earned him recognition at both the conference and national levels. He is a two-time NAIA Division I Coach of the Year, a four-time WBCA Region Coach of the Year, a four-time SSAC Coach of the Year and a TransSouth Conference Coach of the Year. He was also named the WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year presented by Pivot Analysis in 2020.

Success under Nelson has extended well beyond the basketball court. In 2025-26, Bethel women’s basketball earned the No. 1 team GPA among NAIA women’s basketball programs in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, continuing the program’s commitment to excellence in the classroom as well as in competition.

Nelson has also played an active role in the leadership and advancement of women’s basketball nationally. He served on the WBCA Board of Directors from 2018-2024 and served as President of the NAIA/WBCA Executive Committee in 2025. He currently serves as Secretary of the NAIA/WBCA Executive Committee.

He has served on the NAIA Tournament Selection Committee since 2021 and the NAIA All-American Committee since 2012, while also spending six seasons as a member of the NAIA Rating Committee.

Nelson began his coaching career while still a student at Bethel, coaching at Yorkville School during his sophomore year. After one season, he joined the staff at Gibson County High School, working under his mentor, Coach Scott Bowlin.

Nelson later returned to Bethel and spent five seasons as an assistant coach under Coach Larry Eddings. During that time, he helped the Lady Wildcats make consecutive appearances in the NAIA Division II National Tournament in 2005 and 2006 before taking over the program as head coach in 2006.

Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Bethel University in 2004. He is married to his wife, Jennifer, a teacher at McKenzie Middle School. They reside in McKenzie, Tennessee.

Coaching Record