Jason Nelson is in his fourth year as Assistant Athletic Director at Mount Marty University, following 12 years as the head assistant coach for the Lancer baseball team. In his current role, he oversees athletic facilities, strength and conditioning, and sports medicine.
Jason has played a key role in several major facility upgrades, including the installation of a new wood floor and video board in Cimpl Arena (2024), a video board and scoreboard at Crane Youngworth Field (2024), a new camera system in the First Dakota Ruth Donohoe Fieldhouse (2024), and the creation of a new Athletics Meeting Room (2023). He also oversaw the design and completion of a new indoor Hitting Room for Baseball, Softball, and Golf (2022), providing year-round training space for athletes in each sport. In addition, he led multiple upgrades at Riverside Field at Bob Tereshinski Stadium, including artificial turf installation, Musco lighting, new dugouts, fencing, and turf renovations (various phases, completed by 2023). He also directed the artificial turf and batting cage projects at Sertoma Park, benefiting both Mount Marty Softball and the local baseball/softball community.
During his tenure as an assistant coach, Jason specialized in hitting and led the Lancers’ strength and conditioning efforts. One of the most accomplished hitters in Mount Marty history, he holds the program record for highest career batting average (.446) and ranks second in career home runs (46). He was a three-time All-Conference selection after transferring from Johnson County Community College (Kansas City, Kan.) and helped lead Mount Marty to three conference championships. In recognition of his achievements as both a player and coach, Jason was inducted into the Mount Marty Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jason also teaches at Mount Marty University, sharing his expertise in baseball, strength and conditioning, and sports management. His background includes experience as a certified athletic trainer with the Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls and the University of Sioux Falls, as well as outreach roles at West Central and Tri-Valley High Schools. He also served as an athletic trainer for the Sioux Falls Canaries professional baseball team for three summers. Following his time at the Orthopedic Institute, he worked as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Coordinator at Lakeside Orthopedics in Omaha, Nebraska.
A dedicated community leader, Jason has served on the Yankton Baseball Association (YBA) board since 2012, including eight years as president (2016–2024). In 2024, he was honored with the Mount Marty University Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contributions to the university and athletic program. He earned his master’s degree in Exercise Science from South Dakota State University.
