Nelson Catalina

Nelson Catalina (born December, 1950)

Teams coached: Arkansas State Red Wolves
Arkansas State record: 188-139 (.575)
Overall record: 188-139 (.575)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  4  (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991)
  • American South Regular Season Champion:  1  (1991)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1984-1995 Arkansas State
1979-1984 Arkansas State (asst)

Nelson Catalina Facts

  • Nelson Catalina
  • Born December 9, 1950
  • Alma Mater: Ouachita Baptist University (BA, 1972)
  • Spent five seasons as an assistant at Arkansas State under head coach Marvin Adams
  • Took over as head coach in 1984, leading the Indians (now Red Wolves) for the next eleven seasons
    • Compiled a 188-139 overall record and won 20+ games four times, reaching the NIT in each of those seasons
    • Won the now-defunct American South title in 1991 before the program moved to the Sun Belt the following year
    • Fired in 1995 amidst unrest amongst his players; replaced by his assistant, Dickey Nutt
  • Did not seek out further coaching jobs after that, working instead in the securities business
  • Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2010; later served on the Hall’s Board of Directors

Nelson Catalina Coaching Tree