Head Coach Niles Nelson joined the staff at Husson as the Defensive Coordinator in 2002. He was named head coach in July 2009.
Coach Nelson was born and raised in Winchester, MA. He attended the U. Maine Orono and studied Chemical Engineering. After two and half years his love of football won out over engineering and he transferred to education, so that he would be able to pursue a career in coaching. While at U. Maine Orono he played all four years under Harold Weterman. He was elected as captain his senior year. He also won several other academic and football awards including being chosen All Maine and All Yankee Conference. Coach was never the biggest player on the field but he was certainly one of the most enthusiastic and played with great athletic instinct and attitude.
Coach Nelson has a diverse and successful coaching background. He began his coaching career, after graduating from U. of Maine Orono, as an assistant at his old high school in Winchester. His first head coaching job was at Millis, MA where he took a team that was 1-8 to 18-1 over his last 2 years and winning a state championship.
He earned a Ph. D from Florida State University and served as a Graduate Assistant. After leaving Florida State he taught at Austin Peay and Charlotte Meeklenburg School. He returned to Maine in 1974 to coach at Orono High School.
Coach Nelson took over the football program at Orono High School. At Orono High School, he had three straight undefeated seasons and won State Championships in each of those years. After Orono High School, he went to U. Rhode Island and served as the Offensive Coordinator. Over the three years at U. Rhode Island the Rams won two Yankee Conference Titles and advanced to the 1-AA National Semi-Finals. Nelson spent three years at Nichols College serving one year as offensive coordinator and two years as defensive coordinator.
Coach Nelson retired in 2000 and moved to South Carolina. He still had a love for football so he accepted a part time postion at The Citadel for a year and then went to Methodist College as a full time offensive line coach before starting at Husson.
Along with his coaching duties, Coach Nelson will teach in the School of Education.
Coach Nelson is married to the former Ronnie Stather, they met while there attending U. Maine Orono. They have four children Lorilyn, Randy, Kelley, and Kyle. They reside in Bucksport, ME.
