Officials' Appreciation Week for spring sports is celebrated April 3-9. This special week is one of numerous initiatives that are being implemented as part of the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) Strategic Plan for Collegiate Officiating that was created as a result of the DIIICA's Strategic Analysis of the State of Collegiate Officiating.
Jim Nelson, a 1973 College of Wooster education alumnus, is a tennis official. Nelson has officiated the sport for 50 years at the youth, college, and high school level. He officiates matches within the North Coast Athletic Conference, Big East Conference, and Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Where and how did you get your start as an official?
I became a USTA official in 1974 when I started the Indoor Tennis Center in Wooster after graduation.
Why did you decide to become an official?
As a tennis teaching professional and director of tennis for two indoor clubs and several area country clubs, it only made sense that I should also become an official.
Take us through your journey of working your way up to become an official at the level you currently are at?
It was either law school or tennis after graduating from Wooster, and I chose the racket of tennis. I played briefly as a professional, but I needed to eat. I found success in coaching my much younger sister, Vicki, who was ranked among the top 100 players in the world for 10 years and reached the fourth round of the 1982 US Open. We traveled all over the world with England's Wimbledon being my favorite tournament. I also coached my son, AJ, and daughter, Jamie, who both played on full athletic scholarships for Division I programs for four years. My daughter played for the University of Wyoming and AJ played for the University of Richmond. Jamie is currently the coach of rival Denison University and my son just finished coaching at Columbia University. Susie, my wife of 48 years, played for Akron University. In 2006, the extended "Nelson" family was named the USTA Midwest Family of the Year and were finalists for the National Family of the Year. Besides officiating, I still play and have been consistently ranked in the top five in both the father-daughter and father-son national divisions. This past year I cracked the USA national top 10 rankings in the 70-and-over men's singles division. I believe the best sport for a longer life, is tennis.
What do you enjoy the most about being an official?
The sportsmanship these young athletes show is the key to me.
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
You have to love the sport and from there, it is easy to get hooked.
If you are interested in becoming an official, please click on one of the links below to get started: