Named the 2018 ECAC Coach of the Year, the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics program continues to reach new heights athletically, academically and in the community under head coach Jerry Nelson. The 2019 campaign is his 15th at the helm of the Owls.
In addition to his position at SCSU, Nelson has also served as Chairman of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Women’s Championship Committee and on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.
Since taking over for the 2005 season, Nelson continues to guide the Owls to team and individual successes. He was named the National Coach of the Year in 2007, and the Owls have won three ECAC Championships under his guidance.
The Owls have had at least one student-athlete earn All-America honors in 11 of Nelson’s previous 14 seasons.
Furthermore, he has coached 82 USA Gymnastics All-America Scholar-Athletes, 73 WGCA Scholar-Athletes, 19 All-Americans, eight ECAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year, five ECAC Rookies of the Year and four student-athletes who have earned ECAC Athlete of the Year or Most Outstanding Performer laurels. SCSU has also had 17 ECAC champions in that stretch.
The Owls claimed nine victories in 2018, including a triumph over Division I Brown. Six student-athletes qualified for USAG Nationals, with Kate Aberger and Alexandra Avendano capturing All-America honors. Aberger was also named an Academic All-American (First-Team) by the College Sports Information Directors of America for the second year in a row, and also was named ECAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. The team set new program records on beam, bars, floor and overall team score. Eight Owls were named to the ECAC All-Academic Team, with seven named USAG Scholar-Athletes and 12 recognized by the Women's Gymnastics Coaches Association.
SCSU had the 25th best GPA of any collegiate women's gymnastics program in the nation in 2017-18. For his efforts, Nelson was named the ECAC Coach of the Year.
Nelson guided the Owls to a nine-win season in 2017, one that included 11 student-athletes qualifying for the USAG Collegiate National Championships. Kate Aberger and Rotem Porat were named All-Americans, with the former also collecting Academic All-America laurels from the College Sports Information Directors of America and ECAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolades. The Owls also set new program records for overall team score and for beam score. Twelve Owls were also named to the ECAC All-Academic Team, with nine named to the NACGC/W Academic Team and five named USAG Scholar-Athletes. SCSU also was once again lauded with the NACGC/W Team Academic Award.
The Owls enjoyed a highly successful 2016 season on all fronts. The team recorded nine wins during the regular season, including the first-ever win over Temple. Team program records on the bars and beam were also set by the club during the year. The team had 10 student-athletes qualify for USAG Collegiate Nationals, with Nicole Pruchnik earning All-America honors.
Academically, the team posted the 16th best GPA among all college gymnastics programs and was recognized by the NACGC/W with its Team Academic Award once again. Seven student-athletes were named NACGC/W Scholar-Athletes, with six earning USAG All-America Scholar-Athlete laurels and nine selections to the ECAC All-Academic Team. Jennifer Rochefort was also named as the ECAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. Abigail Bensley was also honored as the athletic department's individual Community Service Award recipient.
The 2015 season saw continued success in the classroom and in the gym. A single-season record 11 student-athletes qualified for the USAG Collegiate Nationals. The gymnastics program recorded seven wins during the regular season and finished as the ECAC runner-up. The USAG also recognized eight Owls as Scholar-Athletes for their work in the classroom, while the team had nine ECAC All-Academic Team picks.
The 2014 gymnastics program recorded seven wins during the regular season, including a win over Division I Yale for the second year in a row. The team had 12 student-athletes named to the ECAC All-Academic Team and 10 student-athletes qualify for the USAG Collegiate Nationals. The USAG also recognized eight Owls as Scholar-Athletes for their work in the classroom. Two student-athletes were also named All-Americans.
The Owls also continued to serve as ambassadors in the community and were recognized as the department winner for the annual Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup for the second year in a row.
Southern Connecticut enjoyed another highly successful season in the gym, in the classroom and in the community in 2013. Nine student-athletes qualified for Nationals, with one earning All-America honors. SCSU also set new program records for overall team score and team vault score. The Owls claimed 12 wins during the regular season, including a victory over Division I Yale.
Nelson’s team was also recognized as the department winner for the annual Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup. As a group, the Owls impacted numerous organizations within Greater New Haven, while several student-athletes also completed community outreach activities in their native states a well.
Southern Connecticut enjoyed another highly successful season in the gym, in the classroom and in the community in 2012. The Owls recorded 10 victories, including victories over Division I programs Cornell and Brown. SCSU also had nine student-athletes qualify for USAG Collegiate Nationals, with three earning All-America accolades.
Academically, the team was also honored by their NACGC/W for their academic success. The Owls posted a higher grade point average than notable schools such as Arizona State, Brigham Young, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina State, Oregon State, Penn State and UCLA.
In 2011, the Owls concluded the regular season with 12 wins, including a triumph over Division I Yale. Six student-athletes qualified for the USAG Collegiate Nationals.
Academically, the team was also honored by their NACGC/W for their academic success. The Owls posted a higher grade point average than notable schools such as Auburn, Arizona, Brigham Young, George Washington, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh.
The 2010 season featured seven individuals posting qualifying marks for Nationals. As a team, the Owls recorded several key victories, including two triumphs over Brown. For his efforts, Nelson was named the 2010 ECAC Coach of the Year.
In addition, Sarah Darst collected First-Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America, and seven student-athletes were named Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.
Southern Connecticut excelled in all facets during the 2009 season, one that was highlighted by an eighth place finish at the USAG Collegiate Nationals. The Owls finished with 17 wins on the year, including victories over Yale, Brown, Penn and Rutgers.
On the individual front, three student-athletes earned All-America honors. Eight student-athletes were selected USAG Collegiate All-America Scholar-Athletes, while three earned Scholar-Athlete honors from the NACGC/Women. Sarah Darst also collected Second-Team Academic All-America and First-Team Academic All-District honors from CoSIDA.
SCSU finished with 19 victories in 2008 and once again claimed the ECAC Championship. Five student-athletes qualified for USAG Nationals, while senior Erika Pysh earned All-America honors in three events and was named the 2008 NACGC/W Gymnast of the Year. In addition, six student-athletes were named NACGC/W Scholar-Athletes and the team won the Academic Team of Success Award presented annually by the SCSU athletic department for the second straight year.
In 2007, SCSU posted a 12-win season and sent four student-athletes to Nationals. Six student-athletes were also named NACGC/W Scholar-Athletes.
Nelson is a SCSU graduate and was a member of the Owls’ 1973 NCAA Division II National Championship men’s gymnastics team for Olympic coach Abie Grossfeld.
Nelson was the owner and coach at Nelson’s Gymnastics Centers in the southern Connecticut area from 1974-99, where he worked with more than 15,000 young gymnasts through the years at five gym locations.
He became the Director of Events for USA Gymnastics (USAG) in Indianapolis from 1999-2001 and directed all aspects of the national and international televised events for the sport’s national governing body.
Nelson also spent three years as the chairman of the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors’ Bureau’s New Haven Sports Committee, designed to maximize resources and attract significant sporting events to New Haven.
He is also the president of Tumbling Boot Camp, a highly successful series of tumbling camps designed specifically for cheerleaders.
Nelson is a National Safety Instructor for USAG and recognized in the safety handbook for his contributions to the success of the program.
Nelson and his wife, Joanne, are the parents of two daughters - Danielle, a former cheerleader at Quinnipiac University who earned her master’s from SCSU and is a school counselor in the Amity school district, and Brittany, a local hairdresser and former cheerleader who has competed at four World Cheerleading Championships.
