{{Short description|American volleyball coach}} {{For|the singer, songrwriter, and actor|Anders Nelsson}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Anders Nelson | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Head coach | current_team = Vanderbilt | current_conference = SEC | current_record = 9–18 | contract = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|14}} | birth_place = Chisago City, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Ball State<br>Kentucky <small>(MBA)</small> | player_years1 = 2008 | player_team1 = Minnesota (club) | player_years2 = 2009–2011 | player_team2 = Ball State | player_positions = Middle blocker | coach_years1 = 2011 | coach_team1 = Kentucky (volunteer assistant) | coach_years2 = 2012 | coach_team2 = Arkansas (assistant) | coach_years3 = 2013–2016 | coach_team3 = Kentucky (assistant) | coach_years4 = 2017–2022 | coach_team4 = Kentucky (associate HC) | coach_years5 = 2022{{efn-ua|name=Vand|Nelson was appointed in December 2022 to build Vanderbilt's inaugural volleyball program; official NCAA competition began in the 2025 season.}}–present | coach_team5 = Vanderbilt | overall_record = 9–18 | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = | coaching_records = }}
'''Anders James Nelson''' (born November 14, 1987) is an American volleyball coach and former player. He was named the head coach of Vanderbilt women's volleyball team in December 2022, with official NCAA competition starting in the 2025 season. Vanderbilt announced the addition of volleyball as its 17th varsity sport, as the program was originally discontinued after the 1979–80 academic year.
==Early life, education, and playing career== Nelson was born on November 14, 1987, in Chisago City, Minnesota to Mark and Laurie Nelson. He was raised in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. He did not play volleyball in high school at St. Croix Falls High School, but did play basketball, baseball and cross country, earning MVP honors three times for the basketball team.<ref name="BallSt">{{cite web|url=https://ballstatesports.com/sports/mens-volleyball/roster/nelson-anders/1676|title=Ball State Bio}}</ref>
Nelson is a 2011 graduate of Ball State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a finance and accounting degree. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Kentucky in May 2018 and is married to his husband, Mark Hemberger.<ref name="vand">{{cite web|url=https://vucommodores.com/vanderbilt-names-anders-nelson-head-volleyball-coach/|title=Vanderbilt Names Anders Nelson Head Volleyball Coach}}</ref> Nelson started college at the University of Minnesota, where he played for their men's club team. Eventually, Nelson played three seasons of NCAA Division I men's volleyball as a middle blocker for Ball State University. In his final season in 2011, he was named to the AVCA All-America Second Team.<ref name="vand"/>
==Coaching career== Nelson spent 11 seasons in various coaching positions for Kentucky, first as an assistant coach and later as associate head coach for seven seasons. Nelson helped guide the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament in each of his 11 seasons, highlighted with the team winning the 2020 NCAA title, its first in program history.
In April 2022, Vanderbilt announced the addition of volleyball as its 17th varsity sport. The program was originally discontinued after the 1979–80 academic year. Anders was officially named head coach in December 2022.<ref name="vand"/>
==Head coaching record== {{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Vanderbilt Commodores | conference = Southeastern Conference | startyear = 2025 | endyear = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2025 | name = Vanderbilt | overall = 9–18 | conference = 3–12 | confstanding = 15th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Vanderbilt | overall = {{Winning percentage|9|18|record=y}} | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|3|12|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record End | overall = {{Winning percentage|9|18|record=y}} | legend = no }}
==Notes== {{Notelist-ua}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Southeastern Conference women's volleyball coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Anders}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American men's volleyball players Category:American volleyball coaches Category:Middle blockers Category:Arkansas Razorbacks coaches Category:Arkansas Razorbacks women's volleyball Category:Ball State Cardinals men's volleyball players Category:Kentucky Wildcats women's volleyball coaches Category:Vanderbilt Commodores coaches Category:People from Chisago County, Minnesota Category:People from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin Category:Sports coaches from Wisconsin Category:Volleyball players from Wisconsin Category:LGBTQ volleyball players