Skidmore selects Andrew James “AJ” Nelson as head men’s tennis coach

Skidmore College men’s tennis head coach Andrew James “AJ” Nelson. (PROVIDED PHOTO).

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Skidmore College recently named Andrew James “AJ” Nelson as its next head men’s tennis coach.

Nelson most recently served as the assistant women’s tennis coach at Columbia University. During his five seasons in New York, Nelson coached multiple nationally ranked Division I players and helped the team achieve its highest-ever national ranking at No. 21 before the 2019-20 season was cut short with the team holding an 11-2 dual record.

“My family and I are absolutely thrilled to be joining the Skidmore College community,” Nelson said. “I am grateful for the chance to lead the men’s tennis program and would like to thank Gail Cummings-Danson, the search committee, and the rest of Skidmore’s athletic department for this amazing opportunity at such a prestigious institution in such a distinctive setting.”

“We are excited for the future of Skidmore men’s tennis with AJ as our new head coach,” Skidmore athletics director Gail Cummings-Danson remarked. “His experience and commitment to balancing high-performance academics and athletics has prepared him to take on this leadership role and guide our program moving forward.”

Before his time at Columbia, Nelson was a teaching professional and director of junior tennis at The Meadow Club in Southampton, New York. Concurrently, he served as assistant director of the Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps for youth players aged 8-18.

Nelson began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012. He then spent a season as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s programs at Colgate University.

“During the interview process, I sensed the remarkable culture and excitement surrounding Skidmore,” Nelson added. “I feel privileged to join during a pivotal moment in the program’s history, especially with the addition of the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center. I look forward to building on Skidmore’s rich tennis tradition and supporting our student-athletes in achieving their full potential, both on and off the court.”

“AJ’s leadership style will add strength to our program, and we know that our students will benefit from his strong mentorship,” Cummings-Danson said.

An accomplished collegiate player, Nelson competed for The University of Richmond, where he served as team captain for two years. He earned All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors in doubles in his junior and senior seasons. Nelson graduated from Richmond in 2011 with a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography and the Environment.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Nelson comes from a tennis family. His father was the director of tennis at his hometown club, his sister is currently the head women’s coach at Denison University, and he has multiple cousins who competed at the collegiate level.

Nelson joins a Skidmore men’s tennis program rich in history. The Thoroughbreds have won 15 conference titles, most recently in 2021, and have produced 29 All-Americans. Skidmore advanced to the Liberty League semifinals this past spring and has reached at least that far in each of the 20 Liberty League Tournaments held since the league’s inception in 2004.