Coaching Staff

Mike Nelson joined the Monmouth University Athletics Department on August 12, 2019 as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.

Nelson 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.

Nelson continued to lead the Hawks to success in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field throughout the 2021-2022 season. 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. Neidrowski 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.