Dave Nelson
Baseball Coach
Inducted in 1998

Dave Nelson was UVSC's baseball coach from 1976 to 1990. He compiled an overall record of 354 wins and 251 losses, and was the winningest coach in UVSC history when he retired. His clubs won 25 or more games in seven of his 15 seasons and claimed nine conference titles.

He retired from coaching in 1990, but stayed on as a health and physical education instructor at UVSC. He served as the department chairman for health and physical education from 1992 to 1995, and was the department Teacher of the Year in 1998. Nelson graduated from Viewmont High School, where he was an All-State baseball player.

He was drafted by the 1969 World Champion New York Mets right out of high school, but opted instead to go to BYU to play collegiate baseball. He was a standout pitcher for the Cougars, earning All-WAC honors and winning the WAC earned-run-average title. He earned a bachelor's degree from BYU, and a master's from Utah State.

Nelson was also an excellent basketball official, officiating games in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, the Western Athletic Conference, the Big Sky and the Mid-Continent Conference. He also served as an assistant baseball coach at BYU and at Timpanogos High.

An inspiration to all who knew him, Nelson survived three major life threatening surgeries in a one-year period from 1994 to 1995, including two liver transplants. He passed away October 27, 2002.