Story courtesy of Concordia St. Paul Sports Information department: Josh Deer
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul Director of Athletics Regan McAthie has announced the appointment of Joe Nelson as interim head women's lacrosse coach for the 2020 season, effective immediately.
The program will commence a national search following the conclusion of the upcoming season.
"After completing the search process, it became clear that promoting internally would provide this program the best chance for success this current season as well as the opportunity to reevaluate in May," said McAthie. "Joe's familiarity with the program along with his lacrosse expertise makes him well-equipped to lead our senior-laden program towards achieving the high goals they've set."
Nelson has worked with the program's goalies as an assistant in the past, helping the team's performance in the cage produce a program-best .447 save percentage and 11.06 goals against average in 2019.
"I'm extremely humbled for the opportunity to coach this group of talented lacrosse players," said Nelson. "Their work ethic, resilience and team bond has set them in motion to doing big things this season and I'm looking forward to being a part of it. Only limit is what we perceive is possible."
In addition to his work with the CSP goalies in 2019, Nelson is the founder of TCM Lacrosse, a goalie exclusive lacrosse organization focused on the growth and develop of youth and high school goalies throughout the Midwest. His work has included consulting with local high school teams, youth associations and travel clubs on talent strategies, defensive formations and goalie development programs.
Aside from his lacrosse work, Nelson is a sales consultant for LinkedIn Corporation. He has been a consistent Top Performer + Club winner with LinkedIn and has devoted his consulting business to helping firms develop their go-to market digital sales & marketing strategies.
He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Saint John's University where he was a four-time All-American lacrosse player.
Concordia makes its 2020 debut next Thursday, February 13 at 6 p.m. against UC-Colorado Springs at the Concordia Dome at Sea Foam Stadium. CSP, entering year four as an NCAA Division II varsity program, is coming off its best season a year ago, finishing fourth in the GLIAC with a 7-4 league record, posting a program-best 11-7 overall record while qualifying for, hosting and winning the first ever postseason contest in program history.
