Nelms Named Ave Maria Head Strength And Conditioning Coach
AVE MARIA, Fla. --- Ave Maria University has hired Cory Nelms as the University's new Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Athletic Director John Lamanna announced this week. Nelms will spearhead the strength programs for Ave Maria's Olympic sport programs.
“We are blessed to have someone with Cory’s experience leading our strength and conditioning program within our athletic department,” said Lamanna. “Cory is our first full time strength and conditioning coach and we are excited to see the impact he will have on our student-athlete experience.”
"It's a pleasure to be at Ave Maria," Nelms said. "It's a great opportunity, not only for myself, but for the University to continue to build the athletic department to the standard we want it to be."
Nelms is a graduate of the University of Miami, where he was a two-sport athlete for the Hurricanes. On the football field, he was a crucial special teams contributor and helped Miami to bowl game appearances in each of his final three years on campus.
As a track competitor, Nelms was a two-time ACC Champion, winning the 2009 Indoor title in the 60-meter hurdles and the 2010 Outdoor crown in the 110-meter hurdles. He holds the Miami record in the 400-meter hurdles, and is a member of school-record teams in the 4x100 meter and sprint medley relays. Nelms was a team captain during his senior season, and amassed All-ACC and All-American honors.
Following his career at Miami, Nelms played three seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. During his time with the 49ers, he was awarded the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award, an honor given to a first-year player that "has taken advantage of every opportunity, turned it into a positive situation and made their dream turn into a reality." He made his NFL debut in 2012, seeing time on the field for the Raiders against the San Diego Chargers.
Nelms returned to Miami as an assistant coach in the Track and Field program after the conclusion of his NFL career. Nelms served as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to a full-time coach in October 2015, working as a strength and conditioning coach with the team's sprinters and hurdlers. He is also a speed and agility consultant to the National Council on Strength and Fitness, and operates Nelms Performance, LLC.
"I am exceedingly grateful to the University and Athletic Director John Lamanna for giving me this opportunity." Nelms added.
The addition of Nelms to the Gyrene athletic department bolsters each sport on campus, and will provide Ave Maria athletes with the tools to compete at the highest level.