Men's lacrosse Coach Tim Nelson took on the impossible and has proven that the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team can be as successful as any other Big Green sport.
Six years ago if someone predicted the team would sport a winning record and be nationally ranked, few on campus would have believed it.
Nelson, however, came to Dartmouth and was determined to bring respect back to the Big Green men's lacrosse team. With hard work and demanding coaching, he has.
"When I first got here I looked around and saw how successful all the other athletic teams are and I thought that there was no reason why the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team couldn't be successful," Nelson said. "Dartmouth is too good of a place not to have a good lacrosse team."
The 1990 Dartmouth squad struggled the entire season, finishing with a 2-11 record. Through four years of coaching under Nelson, however, the Dartmouth lacrosse squad made remarkable improvements.
"We were tough on the guys," Nelson said. "I was the third coach in five years, so when we talked about commitment some of the guys kind of looked at me funny. I think we lost some kids along the way because we were pretty demanding and we expected a lot."
Last season when the Big Green went 10-4, it was the first year Dartmouth lacrosse had won 10 games in one season since 1949.
This year's edition finished the season 9-4, spending most of the year ranked among the nation's top 20 teams.
This improvement did not come easy as Nelson had to change the attitude of Dartmouth lacrosse players, stressing the importance of time and dedication.
"I think the biggest thing we talked about is commitment to the program not only during the season but during the off-season," Nelson said. "We can't keep Dartmouth lacrosse out of our minds no matter what we are doing."
Nelson knew what it took to be a top lacrosse player because he was a four-year starter at Syracuse University, a perennial lacrosse powerhouse.
"I wasn't the fastest guy or the strongest guy, but I think I had a good mind for the game," Nelson said. "I knew what was going to happen before it happened. I don't think you necessarily have to be a good player to be a good coach. I try not to bring in the fact that I even was a player. That's in the past."
To put such accomplishments as Nelson's in the past though is difficult. Nelson was named National Attackman of the Year three times and was a three-time All-America, ending his career as the all-time leading point scorer in college men's lacrosse.
Despite Nelson's modesty, Big Green players know the skill their leader once demonstrated on the field and respect him for it.
"He knows his lacrosse," Brian Merritt '97 said. "He probably was one of the best players that ever played, so right off the bat you have respect for him."
Colleagues as well as players have recognized the accomplishments Nelson has made in lacrosse. Not only was Nelson nominated for Division I Coach of the Year in 1994, but in the same year he was also inducted into the Hudson Valley Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Having won one national championship as a player, Nelson knows what it takes to field a successful team. He is liked by his players, but at the same time, because he wants them to work to their potential, he is tough on them.
"He's a great guy, but he does get really upset," Merritt said. "You don't want to mess up in a game. He demands a lot and that's what he gets."
Nelson recognizes that a strong hand is sometimes necessary for success, but at the same time Nelson respects his players and recognizes that he too can benefit from them.
"I've actually learned a lot from the kids here," Nelson said. "I've gotten an education here.I work with really bright guys. They're intelligent kids. That's the reason why they're at Dartmouth."
Nelson, who received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Syracuse, spent two years as an assistant coach for the Orangemen following graduation. After another two years as an assistant at North Carolina, Nelson moved to his current position at Dartmouth.
Although North Carolina and Syracuse are consistently top national teams, Nelson has never regretted his decision to move to Dartmouth. In fact, Nelson has enjoyed the challenge of transforming a struggling Big Green lacrosse team into a team that gains national respect.
As for his move to Dartmouth, Nelson has no regrets. Despite leaving top nationally ranked teams, Nelson hopes to help the Big Green reach a similar level he left coaching six years ago.
"I've learned patience," Nelson said. "Working at Syracuse and North Carolina you are able to work with some of the best players and working with them is sometimes easy but frustrating at the same time because the guys at those places are sometimes not as willing to be coached as the guys here at Dartmouth."
Because collegiate competition is full of standout athletes, often times it is not the potential of the player, but his ability to maximize that potential that is needed for success. Nelson has proven he can help form his athletes into competitive lacrosse players.
"He gets the best out of his players," Merritt said. "He won't let you do what isn't your strong point. He has a great eye for talent. He may not get great recruits, but he gets good athletes and he knows what to do with them."
The type of players Dartmouth attracts has also helped Nelson gain good returns on his recruits.
"The guys here at Dartmouth are really willing to listen and learn," Nelson said. "I've learned to become a better listener. The best thing about working at Dartmouth is that the kids are very coachable because they are good listeners. To be able to learn you have to be able to listen, pay attention and be disciplined."
Even though Nelson knows his players have a tremendous amount of self motivation, he does not let that stop him from pushing them to the limit. Expecting no less than the best is Nelson's main coaching technique and is one that is stringently followed by his players.
"The guys understand what we are doing," Nelson said. "If you work hard, good things are going to happen. We have a saying. 'Repetition may not entertain, but if you do it over and over again until you do it right it teaches.'"
Such repetition and consistency is present in Dartmouth lacrosse players on and off the field
"We try to demand discipline out on the field and off the field," Nelson said. "The way we dress off the fieldand the way we act off the field are important. Also, the way we act on the field and the type of things we do on the field reflect the type of team we are."
"Obviously, I enjoy what I am doing," Nelson said. "To be able to coach lacrosse for a living is something I really want to do and not many people can say that."
