Asst. Coach Rick Nelson

Recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach Rick Nelson will look to create another juggernaut of an offensive line in 2008 after seeing the Panthers rewrite the record book last season.

Nelson, who is entering his 19th year as an offensive line coach in the Gateway Conference, also will have to replace a pair of tackles that were drafted in the 2008 National Football League Draft. Chad Rinehart went in the third round to the Washington Redskins, while Brandon Keith was selected in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals.

Under Nelson's guidance in 2007 the Panther offensive line cleared the running lanes for Corey Lewis, who set a school record with 1,513 rushing yards, while also picking up blockers and creating throwing lanes for Eric Sanders, who finished second in the balloting for the Walter Payton Award.

Nelson is one of four former Panther players on this year's staff and he was re-hired by UNI in February 2000 after spending 11 years at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo.

Nelson was a two-year letterman for UNI as an offensive lineman when he played from 1980-83. He received his bachelor's degree in 1984 and served as the Panthers' Strength and Conditioning coach and graduate assistant for two years before going to Garden City Community College as offensive coordinator and strength coach. The Bronc Busters placed second in the Jayhawk Conference in 1987 and captured the title in 1988.

From Garden City, Nelson moved on to Gateway Conference-foe Missouri State University, serving as offensive line coach from 1989-99. He was head football coach and physical education instructor at Woodward High School in Woodward, Okla., in 1999.

While playing for the Panthers, Nelson was a member of the 1984 and '85 conference championship teams which advanced to the FCS playoffs. At Missouri State, he was a member of a staff that broke 35 offensive records. He coached four Bear offensive linemen who signed with the NFL. Six of his Missouri State players were named all-American, 20 were named all-conference, four were selected Academic All-Americans, and two were named to the Gateway Conference All-Decade Team. Two of the Missouri State teams won consecutive conference titles and advanced to the FCS playoffs during his tenure.

Nelson has coached nine linemen who have gone on to play in the NFL, 12 all-conference selections and four all-Americans at UNI, including Ben Deike, who was named a first-team College Sports Report.com all-American, second-team by the Associated Press and The Sports Network, in 2003. Luke Stigler was a first-team all-conference pick in 2004. Chad Rinehart was a first-team all-Gateway pick in 2005 and 2006, while Joe Lobdell was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2005 and earned second team honors in 2006. Brad Harms was an NFL free agent in 2000.

Nelson received UNI's "Oil Can Award" in 1983, given by the coaches to the player showing ability, performance, attitude and leadership. As a prep at Urbandale High School, he was selected to the Iowa High School Boys Athletic Association All-State Football Team, Central Iowa All-Conference, and Urbandale's MVP in 1978.

He and his wife, Jamie, have two children - Nick, 23, who will be a senior safety on the 2008 UNI football team, and Wes, 19.

The Nelson File

Coaching Experience