Boys golf coach receives prestigious award

Terry Nelson, the head coach of the Whitefish High School boys and girls golf teams, was named the National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association at its awards banquet on June 30 in Branson, Mo.

Nelson was nominated for the award by the Montana Coaches Association. He was one of 18 coaches nationwide who won the award this year.

This is the fifth time Nelson has been a finalist for the national award. He has won the Montana Coaches Association's Coach of the Year award 10 times.

Nelson has coached golf in Whitefish since 1985 and has led his teams to 19 state tournament championships. The girls team has won 12, and the boys have won seven.

Last season, the boys captured the state title, while the girls ended up second overall.

Since the start of the high school golf program, Whitefish has taken 23 state titles.

Nelson is assisted by Mark Shafer and Carrol Lilly.

"It's just another great honor for our golf program," Nelson said. "You don't win those thing by yourself."

Nelson retired from his job as administrator at Central School. Last year, he stepped in as interim athletic director for the high school.

He is also the executive secretary for the board of directors at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course.

Nelson plans on coaching both the girls and boys teams next season