Greg “Nic”
S
nelson head coach
everal years ago, scientists analyzed materials located in the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa. They found microscopic evidence of burning inside this cave, along with the kind of tools that could have been used to kindle fire. Carbon dating suggests that this material is one million years old, the earliest evidence we have about the discovery of fire, considered a critical turning point in the evolution of man. Humans have been fascinated by fire since its discovery. Fire was a key to the survival of our species. In the beginning, it provided warmth, and it provided protection from predators. It allowed humans to cook their food, which improved digestion and neurological function, allowing our members to live longer, healthier lives. Eventually, fire was used to cleanse and to purify, but there is a dichotomous aspect to fire. Fire can also be destructive. Fire destroys thousands of acres of forest every year. Worldwide, 339,000 people die in wildfires every year. The challenge is obvious – to harness the wonder and power of fire without being consumed by it. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and you find a man who has learned how to apply the power of fire to his personal life and to his career as a softball coach – Nic Nelson. The fourth Lake Land College team under Coach Nelson’s competent guidance had another outstanding season, including a third straight appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Since moving into the head coaching position at Lake Land College in 2009, Coach Nelson’s teams have won three Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) championships and three NJCAA DI Region 24 Tournament championships. Three times during Nelson’s brief tenure at the helm, he has been named the GRAC and the NJCAA Region 24 Coach of the Year. His four-year record as Head Softball Coach at Lake Land College, stands at 190 wins against just 37 losses. Prior to assuming the head coaching position at Lake Land College, Coach Nelson worked on the coaching staff at Heartland College in Normal, Illinois, helping guide the Hawks, in their first year of competition, to a third place finish at the 2008 NJCAA Division II National Tournament. Coach Nelson brings a wealth of coaching and sports administrative experience to Lake Land. As the past owner and operator of The Practice Factory, an indoor hitting facility with locations in Normal, Champaign, and LaSalle, Illinois. In addition to managing the business aspects of The Practice Factory, he provides individual and group instruction, and he organizes hitting clinics. A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Coach Nelson graduated from Mattoon High School. He began his college education at Lake Land College and completed his bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University. Coach Nelson has coached softball at virtually every age level. He was an ASA Junior Olympic coach for many years and coached at Parkside Junior High School in Normal, Illinois. At the high school level, he coached at Bellflower High School, Champaign Central High School, and Normal Community West High School.