Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Nelson Edmonds was born in Richmond, Virginia on June 23, 1970 to Marcia and Nelson Edmonds. He graduated from Madison East High School (WI) in 1988 where he played football, wrestled, and participated in track and field. Edmonds was a team captain in football and track and field and was MVP in both sports during his senior year; he was also an All-City, All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State honoree in football and a three-time state place winner in track and field.

Edmonds played football in college, starting at the U.S. Naval Academy before transferring to Northern Michigan University (NMU); where he would serve as a team captain his junior and senior year. Edmonds was a two-time MVP and two-time all-conference performer for NMU, and finished his career as the all-time single season rushing leader and second in all-time rushing for a career. Additionally, while at NMU, Edmonds set an NCAA record for most rushes in a game with 62 carries.

Upon finishing his playing career at NMU, Edmonds began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for NMU. During his lone season, he coached an all-conference running back that went on to be awarded team MVP.

In 1994 he moved to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) where he would coach football and track and field in various roles and stints until 2018. While at UWW, he was a member of coaching staffs that won 10 conference championships, played in 6 national championship games, won 4 national championships, and recorded 46 consecutive victories. Edmonds served as running backs coach, offensive line coach, and special teams coordinator; roles that allowed him to coach nine All-Americans, three D3.com National Offensive Players of the Year, and one Gagliardi Trophy winner (D3 Player of the Year). Additionally, Edmonds coached thirteen All-Region players, four Region Players of the Year, thirty-seven All-Conference players, and four Conference Players of the Year. Finally, Edmonds coached seven of the top ten all-time leading rushers in school history.

In 2018 Edmonds moved to the University of Dubuque and coached for four seasons. During that time, he coached four All-Conference performers and the first and fourth all-time leading rushers in school history.

Nelson met his future wife, Amy, at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and both worked at UWW during parts of their professional careers. Amy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Alisandra and Matiana.