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Anders Nelson
Head Coach
From the Jump (A Vanderbilt Volleyball Documentary Series)
Coach Nelson’s Highlights
1 NCAA championship
1 AVCA Player of the Year
1 U.S. Olympian
1 Top-ranked recruiting class
2 Top 5 recruiting classes
4 Top 10 recruiting classes
4 Conference Players of the Year
20 AVCA All-Americans
A rising star in the coaching profession and integral part of the first SEC volleyball program to win a national championship, Anders Nelson (pronounced ahn-ders) will usher in a new era of Vanderbilt volleyball as the reintroduced program’s first head coach, the university announced.
“I coach to instill confidence in athletes and help them reach their full potential…to Shatter their Ceiling,” Nelson said.
“I want our volleyball student-athletes to walk into a championship-caliber program, which is why I’m so excited to welcome Anders Nelson as our first coach,” said Candice Lee, Vanderbilt vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “Coach Nelson not only has valuable experience as part of SEC and NCAA championship teams but embraces and understands the unique opportunity that is Vanderbilt. He’s excited to come to work every day to help young people dare to grow. As we promised with the Vandy United campaign, we want to reimagine what is possible for Vanderbilt Athletics. And by joining us now, Coach Nelson has time to immerse himself in our collaborative environment and help build every facet of this program from the ground up.”
“For Vanderbilt to fulfill its mission, we must always seek out new opportunities to grow,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “The hiring of Anders Nelson to lead the reintroduction of our volleyball program is a further proof point of our commitment to move forward boldly. With an established record of excellence on and off the court, he is the ideal person to build a program capable of furthering Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s flourishing volleyball community and preparing our student-athletes for the lifelong realization of their potential.”
Prior to Vanderbilt
Achievements at Kentucky – Associate Head Coach (2016–22), Assistant Coach (2013-16)
Nelson spent 11 seasons at Kentucky, first as an assistant coach and as associate head coach for seven seasons.
The Wildcats reached the NCAA tournament in each of his 11 seasons in Lexington and progressed to at least the second round on all but one occasion. In his seven seasons as associate head coach, Kentucky compiled a 117-11 record in official SEC matches and won at least a share of six consecutive conference titles, including a perfect 18-0 record in 2018.
In April 2021, completing a 2020 season delayed by the COVID pandemic, Kentucky defeated former national champions Washington and Texas in the Final Four to win the SEC’s first volleyball national title.
Nelson’s recruiting efforts led to the Wildcats signing four classes ranked in the top 10 nationally, two in the top 5 and one top-ranked recruiting class. Among those he helped recruit and reach their potential was 2021 AVCA Player of the Year and 2020-21 Honda Award winner Madison Lilley. During his time in Lexington, Nelson also guided All-American Avery Skinner, who won a silver medal with the U.S. women’s volleyball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Personal
Raised in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Nelson was introduced to volleyball at an early age. His older sister Meredith Nelson Uram ranked among the top high school recruits in the nation and earned All-America honors as a middle at the University of Minnesota.
After beginning his own collegiate journey at Minnesota, where he played on the men’s club volleyball team, Nelson played three seasons of Division I men’s volleyball as a middle for Ball State University. In his final season, he was named to the AVCA All-America Second Team.
Academically, Nelson graduated summa cum laude after double majoring in accounting and finance. He was also a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship following his time at Ball State and earned his MBA from Kentucky in 2018.
Nelson resides with his husband, Mark, and their dog, Cali in Nashville.
Coaching History
Vanderbilt – Head Coach (2022–present)
Kentucky – Associate Head Coach (2016-22)
Kentucky – Assistant Coach (2013-16)
Arkansas – Assistant Coach (2012)
Kentucky – Volunteer Assistant Coach (2011)
Munciana Volleyball Club – Assistant Coach (2010-11)
Muncie Burris Laboratory High School – Assistant Coach (2009-10)