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Corky Nelson

Nelson, c. 1976
Biographical details
Born	(1939-02-25)February 25, 1939 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Died	November 17, 2014(2014-11-17) (aged 75) Temple, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1961–1963	Texas State
Position(s)	Center, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1967–1969	Harlandale HS (TX)
1970	North Texas State (DL/LB)
1971–1973	John Tyler HS (TX)
1974–1981	Baylor (DC)
1982–1990	North Texas State / North Texas
1991–1996	Seguin HS (TX)
1997–1998	Klein Forest HS (TX) (assistant)
1999–2003	Mary Hardin–Baylor (assistant)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1989–1990	North Texas
Head coaching record
Overall	48–52–1 (college)
Tournaments	0–3 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Southland (1983)

Corky Nelson (February 25, 1939 – November 17, 2014) was an American football player and coach. He is known for his coaching stint at the University of North Texas, but was more successful on the high school level.

Nelson was an all-conference center and linebacker at Texas State University–San Marcos, where he was captain of the 1963 team that went undefeated. He began coaching at the high school level soon after his graduation, first at Alamo Heights High School as an assistant, then at Harlandale High School as head coach. He briefly got into the collegiate ranks as defensive line and linebacker coach at the University of North Texas, but left after one season.

In 1971, Nelson became head coach at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. In 1973, he guided a Lions team that featured Earl Campbell to a perfect 15–0 season as well as the state championship in the largest classification. Nelson then became defensive coordinator under coach Grant Teaff at Baylor University. In 1982, he was named head coach at North Texas, succeeding Bob Tyler. He was also named the school's athletic director in 1989. Following the 1990 season, his contract was not renewed.^[1]

Nelson died on November 17, 2014.^[2]