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Donald K. Nelson

Category

Builder

Sport

Basketball

Hometown

Fredericton

Year Inducted

2001

Sport Ambassador

builder

Donald K. Nelson (D)

HONOURED MEMBER

Biography

He was born in Saint John, educated in Montreal, Massachusetts and Ohio, and devoted thirty-five years of his life as a coach and physical educator at the University of New Brunswick. For thirty-two of those years he served as head basketball coach; he also coached the football and wrestling teams, and directed the UNB summer sport camps.In his “spare” time he taught undergraduate courses and served as a basketball administrator and clinician. Honours and tributes have been many; none sweeter than the Atlantic Universities naming their western basketball conference after him.On the occasion of Don’s retirement, UNB president James Downey spoke for everyone when he said:“. . . we value deeply what you’ve done and even more what you’ve been.” Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 2, 2001

Quick Facts

  • Head Coach, UNB basketball team 1956-1988 (32 years) 

  • Won NB-PEI Intercollegiate championship in 1957, 1958 & 1960 

  • Won Maritime Intercollegiate championship in 1967 MIAA Coach of the Year, 1967 

  • Conducted clinics for basketball coaches throughout the Atlantic Provinces, 1960-90 

  • Coach of Team NB (basketball) to first Canada Winter Games in 1967 

  • President of Basketball NB 1968 & 69 

  • BNB Service Award for Coaching 1982 

  • UNB named two scholarships in his honour, 1995 

  • Atlantic University Sport named Western Basketball Division the "Don Nelson Division", 1999

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