The Lady NC Top 80 and Lady Freshman 40 is quickly approaching, and we are gearing up for what should be a historic day for Phenom Hoops and Lady Phenom. The first of many events on the girl's side, and we can't wait to see all the talent on display at the event.
This is why we are looking to bring the best of the best as far as staff. Meet Barbara Nelson, as she has been selected for the Lady NC Top 80. Learn more about her, as she has a VERY impressive resume.
Barbara Nelson has completed her 9th year as Head Women’s Basketball Coach and physical education teacher at Myers Park High School. In the past 9 seasons she has led the Mustangs to a 173-54 record, 7 Southwestern 4A Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships, and capped the 2014 and 2015 seasons by winning the NCHSAA 4A State Championships. Nelson's Mustangs were named the 2014 and 2015 Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 Champions, 2014 Max Preps Tour of Champions recipient (only 10 teams nationally recognized), and finished the season ranked nationally by ESPN (#8) and USAToday (#13) in 2014 and #4 and #7 respectively in 2015. Coach Nelson was selected 6 years as the SW4A Coach of the year and was chosen as the NCBCA District 9 Coach of the Year twice. In 2015, Coach Nelson was selected to the NCBCA State Coach of the Year and was chosen to coach the West team in the East/West All Star Game. Her West team won the game setting a new record of points scored in the game (120 points). She will be coaching the North Carolina All star team in the NC/SC all star game in March of 2022
Before coming to MPHS, Nelson was head coach for 5 years at Wingate University (2007-12) and 21 years at Providence Day School (1986-2007). She has compiled a career record of 720-262 winning 20 overall championships, 9 state championships and 2 Gold medals with USA Basketball. Coach Nelson has been named Charlotte Observer Coach of the Year 9 times in her career and is the only female coach in Charlotte to win public and private school state championship.
During Nelson's tenure at Wingate, the Bulldogs won 2 SAC tournament titles and 1 regular season championship. In Nelson's first season, she led the Bulldogs to a 26-8 finish winning the South Atlantic Regional Championship, earning a trip to the NCAA DII Elite Eight and finishing the season ranked #10 in DII. Due to the team's success, Nelson was named South Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2008. While at Providence Day, Nelson's teams won 7 NCISAA 3A state championships and were named Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 Champions 5 times.
In the summers of 2009 and 2010, Nelson was named the Head Coach of the FIBA U16 & U17 USA Basketball teams. Coach Nelson's U16 team won the Gold Medal in the FIBA America's qualifying tournament in Mexico City, Mexico. The following summer, the U17 team traveled to Spain and France to compete for the World Championship. USA's team led by Nelson won the Gold Medal at the World Championship in Toulouse, France. In 2010 Nelson was named USA Basketball's Developmental Coach of the Year. In the fall of 2010, Coach Nelson was selected to speak at the Turkish Federation national clinic, which was held in conjunction with the Men's World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.
Nelson has also coached boys and girls AAU teams with the Charlotte Royals, NC Comets, NC Flight and NC Spartans. She has been a member of the WBCA for over 35 years and has participated as a clinician at the Women's Final Four in Atlanta and Denver. Nelson has worked and directed camps and clinics for over 35 years. Nelson has coached many players who have played collegiately and professionally overseas. Nelson played collegiately at Presbyterian College (1981-85) where she earned a BS degree in Psychology while receiving a guidance certificate. She has been married to Vernon for 36 years and has two children (Quinn, 32 and Haley 29) and two grandchildren (Freya, 2 and Finlay 1 month).
37 years of coaching
PDS – 437-176 (7 state championships)
Wingate – 101-51 (Elite 8 appearance, 2 conference titles)
Myers Park – 225-71 (2 State Championships, 8 Conference Championships)
Total Career 763-298
USA Basketball U16 & U17 FIBA Head Coach 18-1 with Gold Medal in FIBA Americas and FIBA World Championships.
