Head Coach
Sharon Nelson
Eastern New Mexico University (1993)
Overall record: 264-97 (nine seasons)
Conference record: 95-8 (nine seasons)
Phone: (281) 478-3656
sharon.nelson@sjcd.edu
Now in her 10th season at the helm of the San Jacinto College volleyball program, Head Coach Sharon Nelson has established herself not only among the best coaches in SJC volleyball history, but amongst the best in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) history as well. Her 264-97 overall record is ninth among active NJCAA Division I coaches. She was named the 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Southwest Region Two-Year Coach of the Year after being named the Region XIV coach of the year for the sixth consecutive year.
Since she arrived at San Jacinto College in 2002, Nelson’s teams have won more than 73 percent of their matches, claimed six consecutive conference titles, and finished in the top 11 at the national tournament in each of the last six seasons… No small feat for a head coach at any level. Nelson has positioned herself and her team to vie for an unprecedented seventh-straight conference championship and a return trip to the NJCAA national tournament.
Last season was the most successful under Nelson. She guided her team to a 29-10 overall record, including another perfect conference season at 10-0. San Jac advanced to the national tournament for a sixth-straight year, finishing as the national runner up. The second place finish was the highest national finish for any Nelson-coached team. Six players were named to the all-conference team, including Alyssa Dibbern and Candace Soares who were also named NJCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans. San Jac earned the conference player, setter, newcomer, and coach of the year honors, and had six sophomores sign national letters of intent to play volleyball at four-year institutions.
In 2009, Nelson had to dig deep to build a squad that finished 32-9 overall, and made its fifth-straight appearance at the NJCAA tournament. With only four returning players from the previous season, San Jac proved many people wrong. Six players earned a spot on the all-conference team, including Christie Dorch who was named the conference player and offensive player of the year, and Alyssa Dibbern who was named the Region XIV freshman of the year. Four players went on to earn scholarships to NCAA schools, and Nelson earned her fifth-consecutive Region XIV District M coach of the year.
In 2008, San Jac made its fourth straight trip to the national tournament, finishing with a 33-3 overall record, including a perfect 10-0 in conference play. Five players, including all four sophomores and one freshman, signed to play with Division II schools. Setter Abbey Parker led the nation in assists per game for most of the season, and Zuzana Cizova finished fifth in kills per game. Nelson was named the Region XIV coach of the year, Cizova was the conference’s player of the year, and Parker earned setter of the year honors. In addition, five players were named to the all-conference team.
In 2007, Nelson’s squad came together in a big way. Led by a class of sophomores (of which four went on to play at NCAA Division I or II institutions), San Jac finished the season with a record of 30-13, and made its third-consecutive trip to the national championship where they finished sixth. SJC blew through its Region XIV opponents, winning all 13 matches, dropping only two sets along the way. San Jac was ranked in the top 20 throughout much of the season, and finished sixth at the national tournament. Two players were named all-region, and Nelson was crowned the Region XIV District M Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.
SJC was the region champion in both 2005 and 2006, and Nelson earned the District M Coach of the Year both years (sharing the honor with then-assistant coach Jeff Ham). San Jac finished 11th and eighth, respectively, at the national tournament. In 2006, freshman middle blocker Nyla Ware was named an NJCAA all-American, and five of Nelson’s players were named all-conference. The 2005 season saw Nelson’s players nab five all-region selections, and another NJCAA all-American honor.
Nelson began her San Jac career in 2002, guiding her squad to a second-place conference finish that year. In all, Nelson’s San Jac squads have garnered six conference championships.
Nelson is no stranger to the Houston area, having grown up just south of the city in Alvin. She graduated from Alvin High School in 1988, and went on to attend Alvin Community College, where she graduated in 1990. Nelson then played volleyball at Eastern New Mexico University. She was a three-time all-conference player, once at Alvin College and twice at ENMU, and twice an academic all-American.
Nelson and her husband, Tim, have been married for 13 years. Nelson’s children are her stepson Gaberiel (20), Haley (12), and Josef (8).
