2024 LEGEND OF AUGSBURG ATHLETICS AWARD
Stan Nelson ‘43 (Baseball/Basketball/Football/Golf) -- Inducted into Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 … Earned 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and golf during his Augsburg days, All-MIAC and team captain in football in 1942 … After graduating from Augsburg, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an officer (Lieutenant Junior Grade) during World War II, participating in invasion of Normandy and the Pacific theater … After WWII, he earned his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1951, then served as a coach for seven years at Zumbrota and Farmington, then was named football coach at Anoka HS in 1953 … From 1953-1979, he went 154-70-8, earning 7 conference championships and the state title in 1964 at Anoka, with a 33-game winning streak across four seasons in the 1960s … MHSCA Coach of the Year in 1964 … Elected into Halls of Fame in several different organizations, including Minnesota Football Coaches Association, Minnesota State High School Coaches Association, Anoka High School and Old Timers Football Coaches … Received Minnesota High School Athletic Directors Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008 … Received Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award from National Football Foundation in 2016 … Auditorium at Anoka’s Haven For Heroes veterans home was named for him in 2019 … Competed in Minnesota Senior Olympics, earning a gold medal in golf in 2014 at age 94, qualifying for the National Senior State Games, where he placed third … Married to Marcella Nelson for 65 years (Marcella passed away in 2011) … Children are Cheryl (Richard King), Steve (Angela Nelson), and Dave (Maureen Nelson), 10 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
Stan Nelson, class of 1943 … Our Legend of Augsburg Athletics Award honoree in 2024 was a four-sport athlete at Augsburg, earning 12 varsity letters throughout his athletic career in football, basketball, baseball, and golf. After graduating from Augsburg in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an officer during World War II, participating in the invasion of Normandy and the Pacific theater. Following the war, Nelson earned his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota before coaching at Zumbrota and Farmington for seven years. In 1953, he was named head football coach at Anoka High School, going on to win seven conference championships and the state title in 1964 with an overall record of 154-70-8. Nelson has been inducted into Halls of Fame in several different organizations, including Minnesota Football Coaches Association, Minnesota State High School Coaches Association, Anoka High School and Old Timers Football Coaches. He was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. Stan was married to his late wife, Marcella, for 65 years, and is the father of Cheryl, Steve, and Dave.
Football, basketball, baseball, golf; captain; all-state; honor athlete; high school coach. Nelson has been elected into the Hallo of Fame for the Minnesota Football Coaches, Minnesota State High School League, and Old Timers Football Coaches. He also received the Minnesota State High School Athletic Directors Man of the Year Award.
