Shannon Nelson was named the ninth head basketball coach in the history of the women’s program in 2010. During the span of 13 seasons, the Marshall, MN, native has become the winningest coach in program history, in both total wins (290) and winning percentage (.777).
Coach Nelson’s resume features two national runner-up teams in 2016 and 2020 and a national championship in 2014, the first national championship in any sport at Northland. Nelson has received numerous coaching honors. She has been named the MCAC Northern Division Coach of the Year 12 times and Region XIII B Coach of the Year 8 times. Nelson received the national NJCAA Division III women’s basketball Coach of the Year award in 2014.
Also a clinician, Nelson has worked the Nike High School All-American camp and has operated the Northwest Minnesota Girls Basketball Skills Clinics in the area. She also initiated a summer girls basketball camp held at the college for grades 5-12 starting in 2016.
Prior to her arrival at Northland Community and Technical College in 2007, Nelson served as an assistant coach in the girls’ basketball program at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis during the 2006-2007 season. The Islanders finished as the Minnesota state class 3-A runner-up in girls basketball during that season.
A 2006 graduate of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Nelson led the Gophers to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including three appearances in the Sweet Sixteen, and a Final Four appearance in 2004. A three-year starter and two-time team captain for the Gophers, Nelson was the defensive stalwart, claiming the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times. Also, Nelson was named to the Big Ten Conference all-defensive team her junior and senior seasons.
As a prep, Nelson won the coveted title of Ms. Basketball for Minnesota in 2002. A two-time class 3A Player of the Year, Nelson scored 2,143 points during her interscholastic career. Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Capella University in 2009.
In addition to her duties as the head basketball coach, Nelson also serves as a business instructor and athletic coordinator at Northland Community and Technical College. She currently resides in Thief River Falls, MN, with her husband Travis, daughter, Oaklee (7), and son, Gunnar (4).
