Dan Nelson

Biography

A familiar face within the CUW community, Nelson spent the previous five years in the university's dual-degree athletic training program. During his time as a student, he gained hands-on experience working with a wide range of Falcon athletic programs, including men's basketball, football, softball, wrestling, and both hockey teams. In his fifth year, Nelson was promoted to the head student athletic trainer role, taking on additional leadership responsibilities and working closely with the football program. Nelson excelled academically, earning Dean's List honors every year and receiving the prestigious Ken Weidt Athletic Training Scholarship for academic excellence. His senior capstone focused on the correlation between hip range of motion and ACL injuries, and included surgical observations of ACL reconstructions and meniscectomies in 2022. Beyond CUW, Nelson also gained experience with Saint Augustine Preparatory Academy and the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Arena Soccer League. From 2019 to 2021, Nelson was a member of the CUW men's lacrosse team, serving as a starting defenseman. In 2021, he started 10 games and totaled 20 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. He is certified in Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association, holds an Emergency Medical Technician-B license, and is Board of Certification certified through the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In addition to his work in athletic training, Nelson also serves as a part-time firefighter with t