MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) announced that Minnesota State Moorhead head wrestling coach Kris Nelson will be inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Men's Wrestling Hall of Fame. Nelson will be inducted on August 1, 2026, as a part of the 2026 NWCA Convention at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
 
Nelson is currently in his 17^th season as MSUM's head wrestling coach, having coached one NCAA finalist, six All-Americans, 20 NCAA qualifiers and numerous NSIC and NWCA All-Academic selections. Over the past two seasons, Nelson has led the Dragons to 13 dual victories, including a ranked victory over #11 Kutztown on January 10, 2026. During the 2024-25 campaign, Ryan Henningson (133 pounds) and Pedro Velazquez (141 pounds) were Super Region V runners-up and NCAA qualifiers. 
 
Prior to taking the head job in Moorhead, Nelson spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, North Dakota State. Under legendary head coach (and MSUM alumnus) Bucky Maughan, Nelson helped guide several Bison to national recognition as North Dakota State made the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. While coaching with the Bison, Nelson coached 25 All-Americans, seven NCAA Division II national champions and helped lead NDSU to a team national title in 2001. 
 
Nelson, a Lisbon, N.D., native, turned in one of the more stirring careers in recent memory for the Bison. He was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American at NDSU, including capturing an individual national championship at 133 pounds in 2000. The 133-pounder would place fourth in 1998 and seventh in 1999 respectively. Nelson was a member of two North Dakota State squads that won team national titles in 1998 and 2000. 
 
Following his championship run in 2000, Nelson was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. In his collegiate career, Nelson was a two-time North Central Conference champion and accrued 83 career victories on the mat. While at NDSU, Nelson was also a Greco-Roman University Nationals All-American at 125.5 pounds, placing sixth. 
 
In his prep career at Lisbon High School, Nelson racked up an impressive 128-19 record. He was a three-time USA Junior FILA Nationals Freestyle/Greco-Roman All-American and a National High School Coaches Association High School All-American. Nelson is inducted in both the North Dakota High School Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame. 
 
Nelson is to be inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Men's Wrestling Hall of Fame alongside Franz Affentranger, Eric Bates, Ziad Haddad, Terry Hall, Brandon Newill, and Florencio Rocha.