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College Football

Former Florida basketball standout Brett Nelson lands Holy Cross head coaching job

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

A Florida basketball standout from the Billy Donovan era is now a head coach himself. Holy Cross announced this week that it has hired former Gator Brett Nelson as its new head basketball coach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brett and Jamie Nelson and their son, Eli, to Mount St. James,” Holy Cross Director of Athletics Marcus Blossom said in the announcement. “Brett is a dynamic competitor who is a proven winner as a player and coach. He has played for and coached with some of the best coaches in college basketball and has a proven track record of recruiting and developing student-athletes of character who will excel in the classroom and on the court. Coach Nelson will hit the ground running, and we look forward to competing for and winning championships under his leadership.”

Nelson has spent the past five years on staff at Marquette. He was the team’s associate head coach the last two seasons.

“It is an absolute honor to be the next head coach at Holy Cross,” said Nelson. “My family and I are excited for this amazing opportunity. I would like to thank Fr. Boroughs, Marcus Blossom and the search committee for entrusting me to lead this storied program. Holy Cross has a rich basketball history while being one of the best academic institutions in the entire country. I’m eager to lead our student-athletes, and, together, we will work relentlessly to reach new heights as a program.”

Donovan had high praise for his former star.

“I had the privilege to recruit, coach and develop a close relationship with Brett Nelson,” Donovan said. “I have never seen a harder worker and a more committed player and coach to the game of basketball. Brett has taken that same passion for the game and has developed into an outstanding basketball coach. Holy Cross is filled with passion and rich tradition, and Brett Nelson will embrace Holy Cross’ history. I am so happy for Brett and his family, and I am so excited for Holy Cross. In Brett Nelson, Holy Cross is not only getting a passionate coach, but they are getting a truly great person who will embrace the history of Holy Cross Basketball.”

A former McDonald’s All-American as a recruit, Nelson was part of Florida’s 2000 squad that advanced all the way to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament. He graduated in 2004, leaving UF ranked first in school history in 3-pointers made (274) and attempted (689), second in steals (198) and 14th in points scored (1,417).

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.

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