Mike began his relationship with Pope High School in 2011 assisting the baseball staff as junior varsity assistant and

infield coordinator for the 2012 season. With Mike’s assistance, the Pope baseball captured 3 state championships in

2013,2017, and 2022. The Hounds finished each of the 3 championship seasons nationally ranked finishing 21st, 5th and 17th

respectively. Mike has also assisted in 2 other state championship appearances in 2016 and 2019 with the 2016

season seeing the Hounds finish as the #28 ranked team in the country.

Nelson has served primarily as infield coordinator during his Pope tenure and he played an integral part of molding the

Pope defense and in 2022. During the championship season, the Greyhounds boasted one of the best defenses in Pope

history posting a .954 fielding % and winning games on the strength of their reliable defense. For the 2015 season, Mike

briefly switched roles where he flourished as pitching coordinator. During his lone season at the helm of the Pope

pitching staff the Hounds made it to the state semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Parkview. Mike’s

2015 pitching staff posted excellent statistics and they were anchored by Pope standout Braden Zarbnisky who is currently

a member of the Philadelphia Phillies farm system.

“Nellie” (as he is affectionately known) has also assisted with the Pope fastpitch program since 2012 where he has helped

to win 2 state championships (2014 & 2019) and 3 state runner ups (2012, 2018, 2020).

Mike’s Pope Fastpitch career has known nothing but dominance as the program has qualified for the state playoffs each

year of his career finishing in the state championship tournament held in Columbus 9 of the 10 years he has coached. For

Mike’s efforts with the 2014 State Championship team, Mike has been awarded the high honor of being an Assistant

coach of the Year by the Georgia Dugout Club.

Coach Nelson has polished his coaching skills on the summer circuit coaching teams in both the East Cobb Baseball

program and the 6-4-3 baseball program. In 2001, Coach Nelson assisted the 15u East Cobb Astros in winning the AAU

national championship while coaching under highly successful former Lassiter head softball / baseball coach Scott Kelly.

Mike Nelson is a 1998 graduate of Lassiter High School. During his time as a baseball player at Lassiter, Mike was part

of 2 state runner-up teams in 1995 and 1997 while playing for Hall of Fame coaching legend Mickey McMurtry. Mike

earned a scholarship to play baseball at Georgia State University and was a 4 year letterman for the Panthers spending

three of the four years as the Panthers starting 2nd baseman. In 2000, Mike’s stellar play earned him a spot on the All-

conference tournament team.

After capping off his collegiate playing career, Coach Nelson began his successful baseball coaching career with the

Georgia State University baseball staff. Coach Nelson spent 2 years at Georgia State helping the team to back to back

conference tournament appearances for the first time in school history.

Mike resides in Acworth with his wife Carla and daughter Avery