Tom Nelson announces retirement after 20+ year career
1/20/2021 11:30:00 AM | Baseball, Women's Cross Country, Football, General, Men's Golf, Men's Basketball, Men's Hockey, Nordic Skiing, Softball, Men's Swim & Dive, Men's Tennis, Men's Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Hockey, Women's Soccer, Wrestling, Volleyball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Swim & Dive, Women's Track & Field, Women's Tennis, Women's Golf, Men's Soccer
ST. CLOUD, MINN. - After nearly 25 years with the St. Cloud State University Athletics Department, Tom Nelson, the Assistant Athletics Director of Strategic Communications, announced his retirement from the department.
"I've had the good fortune to spend almost 25 years working with the intercollegiate athletic department here at St. Cloud State University," commented Nelson. "The opportunity to work with the outstanding student-athletes, coaches, media and staff here at St. Cloud State University has been a very rewarding experience and a highlight of my professional career."
Nelson was named the Assistant Athletics Director of Strategic Communications in 2017 after serving as the Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director and Interim Athletic Media Relations Director for 21 years. In his years with the Huskies, he has served as the primary media contact for multiple sports, including men's hockey, and headed several major projects, including the overhaul of the St. Cloud State athletics website.Â
"The memorable teams, epic games and, most importantly, the friendships created over the years will be the things I miss the most about the job," said Nelson, an avid collector of state highway maps and salt and pepper shakers. " In particular, I would like to thank my co-workers in the Athletic Communications Office over the years including Anne Abicht, Terry Tschida, Celest Stang and Kelsey Whaley along with a multitude of former graduate assistants, stat crew workers and student workers who helped us tell the SCSU story for the past quarter century."
An active member of CoSIDA and several national committees, Nelson earned many awards for his achievements throughout his illustrious career. He received the CoSDIA Achievement Award in 2015 and was named the 2014 Small College Wrestling SID of the Year for his work with the Huskies wrestling program. Additionally, Nelson served as the Central Region coordinator for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), media coordinator for numerous USA Hockey Player Development Camps and has been the media steward for the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Baseball Tournament since 1997.
