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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
 | | Mary Persons High School's new Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Brian Nelson (center) with his wife Leslie Nelson and MP Principal Jim Finch. |
Parents, Guardians, and Community Stakeholders of MCS:
Last night, March 26, 2012, the Monroe County Board of Education met in a Called Meeting. The primary purpose of the meeting was to act on my recommendation for Coach Brian Nelson to serve as the next Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for Mary Persons High School.
Coach Nelson has been an Assistant Coach at MPHS since 2006. He has been the Defensive Coordinator of MPHS for the past six years. He has been the Head Track Coach and an Assistant Coach in Boys and Girls Basketball during that time. Before coming to Mary Persons, Coach Neslon coached three years at Crisp County High School, where he coached Wide Receivers (2003), Running Backs (2004), and Quaterbacks (2005).
Prior to his high school coaching experience, Coach Nelson coached on the collegiate level and even coached overseas for the Rothenburg Knights in the German Football League after a brief playing stint as a quaterback for Rothenburg. Coach Nelson spent the 2002 season as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Georgia under the tutelage of former UGA Defensive Coordinator, Brain Van Gorder. Before that he worked at Western Illinois from 1998-2001 serving as Tight Ends Coach for two seasons and an Assistant Defensive Backs Coach for one season. Coach Nelson began his collegiate coaching career in 1997 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the Quaterback's Coach.
Coach Nelson is originally from Iowa and is the son of a high school Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. He was a two-sport athlete at Division III Watburg College in Waverly, IA. Nelson was a four year letter winner in football as a quaterback and earned 1st Team All-Conference honors as a junior and senior. He was also a four year letter winner as the centerfielder on Wartburg's baseball team. He was named 1st Team All-Conference as a senior in baseball. Coach Nelson and his wife Leslie, who teaches special education in Monroe County, have three children: Ava, Mac, and Kate.
MPHS Principal Mr. Finch stated, "Coach Nelson brings a wealth of experience and coaching to this position. After an extensive search, it became increasingly apparent that Coach Nelson was the best fit as the next head coach at MPHS. He is well respected in the coaching community, but more importantly, he is recognized as a fine coach by our players. I look forward to a long relationship with him as our head football coach."
Coach Nelson shared the following the the Board:
VISION for ATHLETICS
Interscholastic athletics provides students with experiences that contribute to the development of mental and emotional skills that enable them to make maximum use of their education. However, putting on a Mary Persons uniform and participating in athletics is a privilege that carries with it great responsibilities and high expectations. Our athletes represent not only themselves, but our school and community.
In recent years, Mary Persons athletics have been very successful at both the regional and state level. It is my vision to continue that success while providing our athletes and coaches with best possible equipment, facilities, and leadership to achieve even greater accomplishments. I want to:
1. Update the current facilities used by our middle and high school athletic teams;
2. Increase the use of the facilities at the Monroe County Education Center, and update those facilities with the Mary Persons brand and school colors;
3. Establish a fundraising event for all athletic teams (i.e. an all sports gala/silent auction); and
4. Provide support and leadership to the coaches and athletes of all sports.
VISION for FOOTBALL
Mary Persons football is an honored pastime within our community. We have a rich football tradition and it is the responsibility of myself, the coaches, and players to preserve that tradition.
My vision is to restore Mary Persons Football to its former glory. As head football coach, I want to build on that foundation by:
1. Having an attacking style of defense where our players become solid tacklers and create turnovers. I want our defense to be a style that is fun for the players and allows them to use their talent to the best of their physical abilities.
2. Having an exciting offense. I want our team committed to running the football. I want our players to be explosive and have fun at the same time.
3. Extending the time that our players have in the weightroom, as well as adding weight training to the middle school program.
4. Helping our players to understand that we will work to establish a desire to practice and play hard. Athletes will know that I believe the foundations of success on the football field and in life are fundamentals and execution.
5. Creating young men and women who are not only athletes but citizens the community can and will be proud of.
Mary Persons' tradition is rich and strong. I would like to add to what has already been built.
EXPECTATIONS for ATHLETES in the CLASSROOM, on the COURT/FIELD, and in the COMMUNITY
1. Do what is right
2. Do your very best
3. Treat others as you would like to be treated
These 3 simple expectations help create an environment of trust, commitment, and caring for self and others. In any aspect of life, a person should set these three expectations for themselves and others.
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY
One of the unique attributes about athletics at Mary Persons is the tremendous amount of parental and community support we have for all of our programs. Without the support of our parents and community members, it is difficult to run a successful athletic program. Coaches, players, parents, and community members are deeply invested in Mary Persons athletics. Although I will not be able to please every stakeholder with all of my decisions, they will be made in the best interest of our athletics program and our athletes.
I will be focused on what is best for our athletes, athletic programs, schools, school system, and community. Student athletes will be my primary focus!
It was a privilege to recommend to the Board one of our coaches to take over as the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. Having been a coach of multiple sports and in the system for six years, Coach Nelson knows our players and understands the expectations for academics and athletics for our athletes. He is keenly aware of the desire of the community to have athletic programs win regional and state championships.
Respectfully submitted,
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