Gary Nelson

Gary Nelson will serve as Coach at Nike Junior Golf Camps, Peacock Gap Golf Course.

Gary Nelson II became the first Dominican head coach to guide his or her team to an NCAA Division II regional appearance with the men's golf team in 2015. There, the Penguins narrowly missed securing a berth to the national tournament, finishing six strokes out in eighth place out of 20 teams. The team finished in second place at the PacWest Championships by a single stroke. His women's team also had its highest-ever finish at the PacWest Championships in 2015. For the success in turning around the golf team, Nelson was named the 2015 PacWest Men's Golf Coach of the Year and Dominican's 2014-15 Coach of the Year.

Prior to coming to Dominican, Nelson, who lives in Mill Valley, was an assistant golf professional at the Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club in Colorado. In 2009, he worked as an instructor for both Stanford University and Nike golf camps under the guidance of successful Cardinal Head Coach Conrad Ray and USF Assistant Coach Ryan Gonzalez.

“I love this game and realize that Dominican has the only NCAA Division II golf program in the county. I am excited to build a program that the University and this community can be proud of,” Nelson said. “It is time to see what these student-athletes are capable of doing and I intend to take it one shot at a time to improve the team and the program.”

Nelson’s father, Dr. Gary Nelson, is the assistant director of athletics for athlete alumni affairs at the University of San Francisco. He has coached or directed the Dons’ men’s golf program since 2005. He coached his son for three years (2006–08) at USF when its golf team rose from 285th to 42nd in the nation among college teams.

The 2008 USF graduate began his competitive playing career in Northern California Junior Golf events. He grew up in Marin attending international Alister MacKenzie Society gatherings held in such clubs as Royal Melbourne in Australia, Lahinch, Ireland and Titirangi, New Zealand, as well as Cypress Point Club and Meadow Club.

Nelson also played basketball at Redwood High School in Larkspur and was coached by Dominican Men's Basketball Head Coach Booker T. Harris. Nelson was a two-time Marin County Athletic League champion at Redwood High School in 2002–03.