--Four-time NSIC Coach of the Year (2002-03, 2004-05, 2016-17, 2018-19)
--21 straight winning seasons as head coach at MSUM
--Career Record (entering 2025-26): 426-273
The 2025-26 season will be Karla Nelson's 26th as head coach of the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team. She's been a member of the Dragon athletic department for 32 years, dating back to her time as an assistant for the Dragon women and as head softball coach.
Nelson's squad again saw steady improvement throughout the 2024-25 season with MSUM going 14-16 overall with 11 conference victories. Senior Natalie Jens and junior Terryn Johnson were named All-NSIC performers for their efforts in 2024-25. The Dragons also brought on a budding point guard in Ashton Safranski, who quickly became one of the league's top defenders. Nelson helped lead MSUM to a ranked win over 25th-ranked Minnesota State on February 22, helping them clinch a home playoff game in the NSIC Tournament. The Dragons would defeat Wayne State 57-50 in the first round to advance to the Sanford Pentagon.
The 2023-24 campaign was a season of learning for Nelson and the Dragons. In 2023-24, Nelson collected her 400th career win as leader of the Dragons in a 69-46 win over Bemidji State on December 8. By season's end, Nelson was the winningest basketball coach in school history (both genders) by a 115-win margin. Coach Nelson helped the Dragons past an 0-7 start to finish the year 13-16. Nelson guided an exceptionally young roster, which included five freshman, to an NSIC Tournament victory over Winona State on February 28. The win was Nelson's 41st conference tournament game coached, which set a new NSIC record.
A four-time NSIC Coach of the Year, 02-03, 04-05, 16-17 and again in 2018-19 Nelson's teams have posted 21 straight winning seasons as MSUM's mentor. The Dragons have qualified for the conference tournament for 24 consecutive years -- having never missed a conference tournament -- including in all 24 years of Nelson's tenure.
In April 2019, Nelson was honored with the University of North Dakota's Clifford Award. The Clifford Award, established to honor former UND President Thomas J. Clifford, recognizes the UND alumni who serve as athletic coaches at the high school or collegiate level and have been notably successful in their sport.
Nelson served six seasons as the Dragons’ No. 1 assistant from 1994-2000. When Jean Roise resigned in March of 2000, MSU Moorhead Director of Athletics Dr. Katy Wilson quickly promoted Nelson to the top post.
The fastest coach in MSU Moorhead basketball history to reach the 300-win plateau, Nelson has accumulated a record of 376-214 in 21 seasons. She earned her 300th win on Feb. 2017 against St. Cloud State. Nelson recorded her 200th conference win on Jan. 27, 2017 against Southwest Minnesota State.
Also included in the success are six trips to the NCAA Division II post-season play (including three straight trips in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19), four NSIC regular-season titles (including three in a row in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19) and four NSIC North titles.
The success also includes three national statistical titles, twice for rebound margin and once for fewest turnovers per game and conference and region Coach of the Year endorsements. Nelson is second among active NSIC coaches in total wins at their respective schools.
The Dragons set a school record with 27 wins and picked up their third straight NSIC title in 2018-19. MSUM won in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009 with a 63-54 win over UMD. MSUM won its third straight NSIC title and its fourth straight NSIC North title as well. Once again MSUM had a long winning streak with a 14-game streak during the year.
MSUM tied a school record with 16 straight wins in 2017-18 on its way to the NSIC regular season title and another NSIC North crown. The Dragons earned another trip to the NCAA tournament and finished 23-6, led by All-NSIC First team selections Drew Sannes and Jacky Volkert. Senior Cassidy Thorson also earned All-NSIC second team honors.
The 2016-17 campaign saw MSUM go 24-5 and win the NSIC regular-season title for the first time since 2004-05. The Dragons had a 15-game winning streak, second-longest in school history, and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2008-09. MSUM matched its highest ranking ever in a national poll as the Dragons were ranked 11th in the Feb. 21 2017 WBCA Coaches Poll, and finished the season ranked 21st. Drew Sannes was named the NSIC Player of the Year while Cassidy Thorson earned All-NSIC second team honors. Nelson was named the NSIC Coach of the Year.
Sannes was WBCA honorable mention All-American.
The 2015-16 campaign marked another strong season for MSUM. The Dragons finished 21-6 and earned the NSIC North Division title for the first time since the league split into two divisions. In the classroom MSUM earned WBCA Academic Top 25 honors, posting the 20th-best GPA in Division II.
In 2013-14, MSUM finished 16-11, highlighted by wins over regional qualifiers Wayne State (ranked No. 8 at the time) and Concordia-St. Paul. The Dragons also went a perfect 2-0 at Concordia-St. Paul's Radisson Hotel Roseville Classic in November. MSUM senior forward Morgan Zabel was named the tournament MVP.
Zabel was named to the All-NSIC first team while senior forward Megan Strese was named to the All-NSIC second team. Both players surpassed 1,000 points for their careers during the season; Strese left MSUM ranked 11th all-time in scoring at 1,228 points while Zabel finished in 15th at 1,115 points.
Senior guard Haley Thomforde also finished her career fifth in assists under Nelson's tutelage.
The 2012-13 season saw a young Dragon team with just two seniors earn a 16-12 mark and a first-round win in the NSIC tournament. MSUM also earned a win over No. 17-ranked Augustana, which ended up qualifying for the NCAA Division II Final Four.
Also in 2012-13, senior Marisa Yernatich set the new career three-point record at MSUM, while junior Megan Strese earned first-team All-NSIC honors. Junior Morgan Zabel was an All-NSIC second-team selection.
The Dragons’ trip to the NSIC Tournament in 2011-12 was the 13th straight time the team has accomplished that feat. Only two other teams have done so.
The first coach at MSUM to debut with back-to-back winning campaigns, Nelson and the Dragons made their first appearance in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional in 2004-05, returned in 2006-07, and qualified for a third time in 2008-09. The Dragons of 2004-05 led the nation in rebounding for a second time in five years after a fifth-place finish in 2003-04.
The 2006-07 team reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in program history and made a serious run for the NSIC title, placing second in the league tournament and suffered an NCAA Tournament opening round loss to the University of North Dakota.
In 2008-09, the Dragons were ranked as high as 13th in the nation, after going on an 11-0 run to open the season. The season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, after picking up the first post-season win in program history. Nelson prodded her first club to a 15-12 overall record in 2000-01, the first winning season at MSUM in six years that also included a NSIC playoff invitation.
In 2004-05 Nelson and the Dragons claimed their first NSIC outright title, cracked the nation’s Top-25 for the first time and received a NCAA Division II regional tournament invitation, the first time in the Head Coach’s career. MSUM finished 24-7 overall and set a Dragon single season record victories. Nelson was saluted as the NSIC Coach of the Year and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Region 7 Coach of the Year as well. The WBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year honor was her second, the first coming during the 2002-03 season.
In addition to her basketball duties at MSUM, Nelson served as head softball coach at MSU Moorhead for five seasons. She inherited a program in serious decline in 1996 and led the Dragons to a surprising 21-19 finish that included a 9-5 NSIC record.
Surely some of Nelson’s coaching acumen can be traced to her alma mater, University of North Dakota. A four-year basketball letterwinner, Nelson was a three-year captain and was a three-year fixture in the Sioux backcourt. Nelson and the Sioux built a 22-6 record and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs as a junior and finished 19-9 as a senior. Nelson was twice honored as UND’s Best Defensive Player.
Nelson enjoyed a rewarding prep career at Erskine High School, excelling in basketball and volleyball. A four-time All-Northern Plains Conference basketball pick, Nelson scored 1,052 points, the first Erskine athlete to reach the magical 1,000-point plateau. Nelson was decorated as “Athlete of the Year” at Erskine High as a senior.
A recreation major, Nelson completed an undergraduate degree from North Dakota and a Master’s Degree from North Dakota State University in Education Administration. Nelson was a member of the coaching staff at East Grand Forks and Grand Forks Public Schools for three years before moving to MSUM.
Head Coaching Record at MSUM (2000-present)
426-273
