10/12/2006

"I am honored and thrilled to join with my other distinguished colleagues in our selection to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame,” said Nelson, who was inducted under the Distinguished Achievement Award category.  “The privilege of playing, coaching, mentoring and administrating in this great game throughout my own lifetime has been and continues to be a special gift of which I am most thankful and appreciative."

“The object of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame is to recognize contributions of various sorts, all of which add up to the wonderful culture of basketball in New England,” said Daniel E. Doyle, Jr., executive director of the Institute for International Sport, which administers the New England Basketball Hall of Fame at the University of Rhode Island.  “The nomination process involves extensive input from people throughout the New England basketball world.”

For four decades, Jim Nelson has been an integral part of Suffolk University athletics.  He began working at Suffolk in 1966 as assistant director of athletics and men’s assistant basketball coach and was named director of athletics in 1975.  From 1976 until 1995, he was head coach of the men’s basketball team. 

Nelson received the tenth annual Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches earlier this year.  In 2005, he was named a Sports Ethic Fellow by the Institute for International Sport, and in 1997, he received the New England Basketball Coaches “Doggie” Julian Award for Service to New England Collegiate Basketball.

In 1992, Nelson was selected as a member of the inaugural NABC Division III Congress, a position he holds presently, serving as the association’s NCAA Legislative Advisor.  Nelson also served as the National Chairman of the NCAA Division III Basketball Committee from 1997 through 1999. 

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