Mark Nelson (Canadian football)

Mark Nelson (born July 25, 1956)[1] is a gridiron football coach and a former professional Canadian football linebacker. He is the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for the Saint Mary's Huskies of U Sports. He played for seven seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion having won as a coach in 1993, 1996 and 2016.

Mark Nelson
Saint Mary's Huskies
Nelson with the Argonauts in 2021
Born: (1956-07-25) July 25, 1956
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Special teams coordinator
Linebackers coach
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight220 lb (100 kg)
CollegeEast Central Oklahoma State
CFL Draft1980 / Round: Terr. Exemption
Drafted byCalgary Stampeders
Career history
As coach
1992Edmonton Eskimos (ST coach/LB coach)
1993–1994Edmonton Eskimos (ST coach/RB coach)
1995San Antonio Texans (LB coach)
1996Toronto Argonauts (DL coach)
1997–1999Valdosta State Blazers (DC/LB coach)
2000Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (DC/DB coach)
2001Kentucky Wildcats (ST coach/TE coach)
2002Kentucky Wildcats (ST coach/DL coach)
2003Baylor Bears (ST coach/DL coach)
2004–2005Baylor Bears (ST coach/LB coach)
2006Tulsa Golden Hurricane (ST coach/DL coach)
2007Louisville Cardinals (ST coach/DL coach)
2008Louisville Cardinals (ST coach)
2009Winnipeg Blue Bombers (DC/LB coach)
2010–2011Edmonton Eskimos (LB coach)
2012Edmonton Eskimos (DC/LB coach)
2013Montreal Alouettes (LB coach)
2014–2017Ottawa Redblacks (DC/LB coach)
2018–2019Ottawa Redblacks (LB coach)
2020–2021Toronto Argonauts (STC)
2022Carleton Ravens (STC/LB coach)
2023–presentSaint Mary's Huskies (STC/LB coach)
As player
1980–1985Calgary Stampeders
1986Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards

Playing career

Nelson played college football for the East Central Oklahoma State Tigers. Nelson was drafted in the 1980 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders where he played for 7 years before retiring with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1987. Nelson played linebacker and fullback during his CFL run.[2]

Coaching career

Nelson has coached for 16 different teams. More recently, on December 20, 2013, he was named the Ottawa Redblacks' defensive coordinator.[3] In 2018, he was demoted from defensive coordinator for the Redblacks to their linebackers coach.[4]

On February 6, 2020, it was announced that Nelson had joined the Toronto Argonauts as the team's special teams coordinator.[5] The league did not play in 2020, so he coached for one season with the Argonauts in 2021. He was not retained by the team for the 2022 season.[6]

On June 23, 2022, it was announced that Nelson had joined the Carleton Ravens to serve as the team's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.[7] After one season with the Ravens, he joined the Saint Mary's Huskies coaching staff as the team's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.[8]

Personal life

Nelson's father, Roger is on the Edmonton Eskimo's Wall of Honour and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[2] His son, Kyle was a long snapper for the San Francisco 49ers.

References
  1. "N".
  2. Davidson, Neil (26 November 2015). "RedBlacks' defensive coach Mark Nelson knows old-school football". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. "Gibson among 8 coaching hires in Ottawa". Canadian Football League. December 20, 2013.
  4. "From Redblacks defensive co-ordinator to linebackers coach, Mark Nelson puts team first". Ottawa Sun. Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  5. "Argos announce 2020 coaching staff". Toronto Argonauts. February 6, 2020.
  6. "Argos announce 2022 coaching staff". Toronto Argonauts. January 19, 2022.
  7. "Ravens Name New Coordinators". Carleton Ravens. June 23, 2022.
  8. "Saint Mary's Huskies hire long-time CFL assistant coach Mark Nelson, former Argos DB Jermaine Gabriel". 3DownNation. April 15, 2023.
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