Sports
UW-Waukesha's Nelson Reaches Coaching Milestone
The college men's basketball coach won his 500th game in his 28th year of coaching.
“I remember watching Hank Aaron hit his 500 home run or watching the Daytona 500 – that number 500 just always stood out to me. It's a number to get your attention.”
Judging from that statement by University of Wisconsin Waukesha head men's basketball coach Neal Nelson, it is not difficult to understand his feelings towards getting to 500 career wins.
Nelson entered the season needing just 17 victories to reach the magical number but playing a little more than a 20-game schedule, the Cougars were not certain they would be able to get their coach to that number.
“The guys really wanted to get to me that win,” Nelson said. “It just so happened that the opportunity would come in the WJCAA state tournament semi-final round.”
If the Cougars pulled out the victory, not only would they get their beloved coach to 500 victories they would play for the chance to be state champions. Standing in there way was UW-Marathon County.
The game was a hard fought battle throughout, but the Cougars were able to pull out a 65-60 at their home court to give Nelson his 500th victory at the school March 12.
The celebration was low key to fit the man that was being honored. The Cougars and Nelson went back to the locker room and celebrated as a team.
“Afterwords I went out with a few of my close friends and we celebrated in downtown Waukesha,” the coach said. Like any great coach, Nelson was not concerned with his celebration plans, he was getting ready for the state championship game.
“We had the big game the next day so their really wasn’t any big elaborate celebration that night," Nelson said. "Our focus was entirely on winning that game.”
Unfortunately the Cougars lost in the final round, 64-59 to UW-Fox Valley, but that did not damper the mood of Nelson on his team’s terrific season and gave him time to reflect on the greatness he has seen in his 28 years at Waukesha.
Nelson in addition to being the men’s basketball coach is the school’s athletic director, an associate professor of health and exercise science and he coaches the golf and tennis teams.
“The years clip around quickly. I’ve never had too many problems here. The alumni is great and they still care about the programs,” said Nelson reflecting on his time at Waukesha. “I’m proud to be working at UW-W. Its a great group to be a part of. I have had opportunities to move on to a different job, but it’s such a great job that I never cared to leave.”
Nelson’s 500 victories make him the winningest Wisconsin junior college coach in the history of the state and that is a fact that the coach holds in high regard considering his respect for his counterparts at other Wisconsin junior college.
Nelson listed Wally Weise, Mike Desile, Jack Brenegan, Jack Schneider, Scott Poole and the Gibbs brothers, Dave and Bill, as coaches that he is proud to be honored amongst.
“Five hundred was an important milestone," Nelson said. "It speaks to the longevity of my career and to Waukesha being a great job and a great place to raise my daughters.
“But my purpose is guiding these 19 year olds in the right direction as they are reaching a fork in the road. I try to mentor, encourage and support these kids from year to year.”
