Nelson spent twelve seasons as the Scarlet Knights’ head coach, and shepherded the program through their transition from the Big East to the Big Ten Conference. The Scarlet Knights reached the conference tournament in each of their first two Big Ten seasons, 2015 and 2016, but have won just thirty-three games over the last two years.
A victor of 279 games during his tenure at RU, Nelson’s best season came in 2013, when his club reached the 30-win plateau for the first and only time during his tenure. The Scarlet Knights were one of just two Big Ten teams to miss the conference tournament this year.
In a statement announcing the move, Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs said, in part, “We are grateful for [Nelson’s] contributions, but we believe it’s time for new leadership. We wish Coach Nelson the best in his future endeavors.”
​Prior to joining Rutgers, Nelson spent a decade as an assistant coach at Seton Hall and also has significant experience at the high school level.
A potential candidate to replace Nelson could come from within the program, as former Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller is the Scarlet Knights’ top assistant. Miller will assume the duties of interim head coach until a full-time replacement is named, according to the school’s statement.
