University of Delaware Athletics
Hall of Fame
Dave Nelson
- Induction:
- 1997
DAVID M. NELSON
(1920-1991)
Head Football Coach (1952-65)
Director of Athletics (1951-84)
Dean, College of PEAR (1980-90)
The Father of the Wing-T offense and the foremost authority on NCAA football rules, the "Admiral" built a strong national reputation as head football coach, director of athletics, and dean during a nearly 50-year career at the University of Delaware.
He posted a 15-year record of 84-42-2 and led his 1963 Blue Hens team to the United Press International Small College national title. He led teams to three Middle Atlantic Conference titles and three Lambert Cup titles as the top small college team in the East. He developed Delaware into the "Little Giants of the East".
At Delaware, Nelson served as Athletic Director for 33 years (1951-1984), head football coach (1951-66), and Dean of the College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation (1980-89). He was appointed the first full-time commissioner of the Yankee Conference in 1989 , serving until his death in 1991. Nelson was a member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee for 34 years (1957-90), and was the committee's Secretary-Editor for 29 years.
He received the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame in 1984, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987, and selected by Referee Magazine as one of the top 20 men who did the most for his sport in officiating. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame in 1978.
Prior to coaching at Delaware, he served as head coach at Hillsdale (Mich.) College and Maine and also was backfield coach at Harvard in 1948.
Nelson authored a number of books on football, including Scoring Power with the Winged-T Offense (co-authored with Forrest Evashevski, 1957), The Modern Winged-T Playbook (with Evashevski, 1961), Football: Principles and Plays (1962), Championship Football by 12 Great Coaches (1962), Dave Nelson Selects 99 Best Plays for High School Football (1966), Dave Nelson Selects the Best of Defensive Football for High Schools (1967), and Illustrated Football Rules (1976). Nelson's final book, The Anatomy of a Game: Football, the Rules, and the Men Who Made the Game, was a year-by-year chronicle of how the collegiate football playing rules evolved from 1876 to 1991. It was published posthumously in 1994.
Nelson passed away in 1991 at the age of 71.
(1920-1991)
Head Football Coach (1952-65)
Director of Athletics (1951-84)
Dean, College of PEAR (1980-90)
The Father of the Wing-T offense and the foremost authority on NCAA football rules, the "Admiral" built a strong national reputation as head football coach, director of athletics, and dean during a nearly 50-year career at the University of Delaware.
He posted a 15-year record of 84-42-2 and led his 1963 Blue Hens team to the United Press International Small College national title. He led teams to three Middle Atlantic Conference titles and three Lambert Cup titles as the top small college team in the East. He developed Delaware into the "Little Giants of the East".
At Delaware, Nelson served as Athletic Director for 33 years (1951-1984), head football coach (1951-66), and Dean of the College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation (1980-89). He was appointed the first full-time commissioner of the Yankee Conference in 1989 , serving until his death in 1991. Nelson was a member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee for 34 years (1957-90), and was the committee's Secretary-Editor for 29 years.
He received the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame in 1984, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987, and selected by Referee Magazine as one of the top 20 men who did the most for his sport in officiating. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame in 1978.
Prior to coaching at Delaware, he served as head coach at Hillsdale (Mich.) College and Maine and also was backfield coach at Harvard in 1948.
Nelson authored a number of books on football, including Scoring Power with the Winged-T Offense (co-authored with Forrest Evashevski, 1957), The Modern Winged-T Playbook (with Evashevski, 1961), Football: Principles and Plays (1962), Championship Football by 12 Great Coaches (1962), Dave Nelson Selects 99 Best Plays for High School Football (1966), Dave Nelson Selects the Best of Defensive Football for High Schools (1967), and Illustrated Football Rules (1976). Nelson's final book, The Anatomy of a Game: Football, the Rules, and the Men Who Made the Game, was a year-by-year chronicle of how the collegiate football playing rules evolved from 1876 to 1991. It was published posthumously in 1994.
Nelson passed away in 1991 at the age of 71.
Delaware Football Postgame Press Conference - WKU 10/3/25
Saturday, October 04
Delaware Football Weekly Press Conference - Week 6
Wednesday, October 01
Field Hockey vs Ohio State
Monday, September 29
Field Hockey vs William & Mary
Friday, September 26
