Feb. 19, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State head coach Chuck Long announced the hiring Tuesday of Mike Nelson as an assistant football coach. Nelson, who will work with the Aztec defensive line, begins his second stint on Montezuma Mesa, having coached the SDSU defensive line in 1987 and the inside linebackers in 1988.
Nelson has nearly 40 years of coaching experience with his most recent stop as the defensive line coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2007.
"Mike brings a wealth of experience having coached from coast to coast and has a very successful background working with defensive lines," Long said. "He has tremendous energy and has Aztec ties, having coached at San Diego State before and a son who graduated from SDSU. We are glad to welcome Mike back to the Aztec family."
Nelson moved to the CFL last season after a 10-year stay as the defensive line coach at Iowa State, where he worked alongside current Aztec coaches Bob Elliott and Chris Ash. During his tenure with the Cyclones, the team set two post-World War II school records in 2005, allowing just 102.7 rushing yards per game, which ranked 12th nationally, and 2.98 yards per carry. Iowa State logged a school-record 32 sacks in 1998, while Nelson helped tutor first-team all-conference honoree Nick Leaders, Big 12 Conference defensive newcomer of the year Jason Berryman, and current NFL players Reggie Hayward (Jacksonville) and James Reed (Kansas City).
"I'm extremely excited to be returning to San Diego State," Nelson said. "I already know and have worked with many of the (coaches) on the current staff. Coach Long has a fine reputation and I've gotten to know him through (Oklahoma head coach) Bob (Stoops). He is a proven winner, who is ready to do the same here at San Diego State."
Nelson's previous collegiate coaching experience also includes stints at Virginia, Ball State, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas State, Stanford, Rutgers and Oregon State. He began his career as the defensive coordinator for the freshman team at Southern Illinois, while earning his master's degree in physical education from 1969-70. Nelson then spent one year each at Toledo Central Catholic High School and Norfolk State University, before returning to his alma mater, Dayton, as the defensive line and linebackers coach from 1973-74.
The Chicago native has coached in eight bowl games, including five in a six-year span at Iowa State, two at Wisconsin under the late Dave McClain, and one at Stanford under Dennis Green. Nelson played both football and hockey at the University of Dayton, earning his bachelor's degree in 1969. He and his wife, Betsy, have three sons, Kurt, Mark and Eric, a San Diego State graduate.
In addition to Nelson's hiring, Long announced three additional changes to the Aztec coaching staff. Assistant coach Toby Neinas, who has worked with the tight ends and special teams the last two seasons, will move over to the defensive side of the ball as the outside linebackers coach. Current director of football operations Brian Stark returns to the field as SDSU's tight ends coach, while assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Elliott adds duties with the Aztec inside linebackers.
"We made moves with Brian and Toby to keep as much continuity as possible," Long said. "Toby's versatility enabled us to move him to the defensive side of the football and opened up an opportunity to get Brian back on the field. I am excited for both of them."
Ten of Neinas' 13 years of experience as a collegiate coach have been on the defensive side, including two seasons as the inside linebackers coach at Temple University from 2004-05, and one year as the outside linebackers coach at UAB in 1996.
Stark, meanwhile, is entering his ninth year at San Diego State with four seasons as the director of football operations (2000-01, 2006-07) and four campaigns as the Aztecs' quarterbacks coach. From 2002-05, he helped SDSU average nearly 3,100 yards (259 yards per game) and 18 touchdowns through the air in each of his campaigns. Stark was SDSU's passing game coordinator in 2005, when then sophomore quarterback Kevin O'Connell threw for 2,663 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Elliott is a 30-year veteran in the college football coaching ranks, including 10 as a defensive coordinator.
San Diego State begins spring workouts next month with the team officially opening the 2008 season at Qualcomm Stadium on Aug. 30, against Cal Poly.
The Mike Nelson File
Birthdate: October 8, 1947
Hometown: Chicago, Ill. (St. Laurence HS)
Alma Mater: Dayton, 1969 (B.S. in physical education); Southern Illinois, 1970 (M.S. in physical education).
Playing Experience: Dayton, defensive back, four-year letterwinner (1965-69)
Coaching Experience:
2007 Assistant coach, Hamilton Tiger-Cats - CFL (defensive line) 1997-2006 Assistant coach, Iowa State (defensive line) 1996 Assistant coach, Oregon State (defensive line) 1993-95 Assistant coach, Rutgers (defensive line) 1992 Assistant coach, Edmonton Eskimos - CFL (defensive front) 1990-92 Assistant coach, Stanford (defensive line) 1989 Assistant coach, Kansas State (defensive line) 1987-88 Assistant coach, San Diego State (defensive line, inside linebackers) 1985-86 Assistant coach, Missouri (defensive line) 1983-84 Assistant coach, Edmonton Eskimos - CFL (defensive front) 1978-82 Assistant coach, Wisconsin (outside linebackers) 1977-78 Assistant coach, Ball State (linebackers) 1975-76 Assistant coach, Virginia (secondary) 1973-74 Assistant coach, Dayton (defensive line, linebackers) 1972 Assistant coach, Norfolk State (defensive coordinator, linebackers) 1971 Assistant coach, Toledo Central Catholic High School (def./off. Backfield, wide receivers) 1969-70 Freshman team assistant coach, Southern Illinois (defensive coordinator)