Brett Nelson

Brett Nelson (born October 22, 1980)

Current position: Assistant men’s basketball coach
Current team: UMass Minutemen (Head coach: Frank Martin)
Current conference: Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10)
Teams coached: Holy Cross Crusaders
Holy Cross record: 27-84 (.243)
Overall record: 27-84 (.243)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2023-present UMass (asst)
2019-2023 Holy Cross
2017-2019 Marquette (assoc. HC)
2014-2017 Marquette (asst)
2013-2014 Ball State (assoc. HC)
2011-2013 Drake (asst)
2010-2011 Arkansas (asst)
2007-2010 Marshall (asst)
2006-2007 VCU (DBO)
2005-2006 Colorado State (DBO)

Brett Nelson Facts

  • James Brett Nelson
  • Born October 22, 1980
  • Hometown: St. Albans, West Virginia
  • Alma Mater: University of Florida (BS, 2004)
  • A McDonald’s All-American out of St. Albans HS (WV), Nelson played four years for Billy Donovan at Florida
    • Went to four NCAA Tournaments and was part of the Gators’ 2000 NCAA Runner-up finish
    • Was Honorable Mention AP All-American in 2000-01 and was twice named All-SEC
  • Started his coaching career as DBO for one season each at Colorado State (under Dale Layer) and VCU (under Anthony Grant)
  • Returned to his home state in 2007, spending three years on Donnie Jones‘ staff at Marshall
  • Spent one year at Arkansas assisting John Pelphrey, then two at Drake working under Edward Phelps
  • Hired by James Whitford in 2013 to be associate head coach at Ball State
  • Longest tenure thus far was a five-season stint working for Steve Wojciechowski at Marquette
    • Spent three seasons as an assistant and two as associate head coach
    • Was a part of two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT with the Golden Eagles
  • Hired in July 2019 to be the head coach at Holy Cross, his first head coaching opportunity
  • Joined Frank Martin‘s staff at UMass as an assistant coach in May 2023
  • Along with his wife, Jamie, has one son

Brett Nelson Coaching Tree

  • Sam Ferry (Rhode Island College)