Bemidji State University

Nathan Nelson begins his first season with the Bemidji State football coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2022. He will serve as the defensive ends coach.

Nelson joins Bemidji State after beginning his coaching career in 2021 at the University of Iowa. He served as a defensive assistant coach with focus on the defensive line. The Hawkeyes ranked 13th in the country with 19.2 points allowed per game and 17th with 328.8 total yards allowed per game. Nelson coached one all-conference and one freshman All-American student-athlete as Iowa won the Big Ten West Championship and advanced to the 2022 Citrus Bowl.

Nelson, a native of Waukee, Iowa, played with Iowa from 2018-20 on the defensive line. His brother, Anthony, currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his father, Jeff, played on the defensive line at Iowa from 1988-92.

Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2021 from Iowa.