Sharon Nelson
Head Coach
Eastern New Mexico University (1993)
Overall record: 170-75 (six seasons)
Conference record: 56-5 (six seasons)

Now in her seventh season at the helm of the San Jacinto College volleyball program, head coach Sharon Nelson has quickly established herself among the best coaches in SJC volleyball history. Since she arrived at San Jac, Nelson’s teams have won 69 percent of their matches, claimed three conference titles, and finished in the top 11 at the national tournament in each of the last three seasons. Now, Nelson is poised and ready to guide her charges to another conference championship and a return trip to the NJCAA national tournament.

In 2007, Nelson’s squad came together in a big way. Led by a class of sophomores (of which four went on to play at NCAA Division I or II institutions), San Jac finished the season with a record of 30-13, and made its third-consecutive trip to the national championship where they finished sixth. SJC blew through its Region XIV opponents, winning all 13 matches, dropping only two sets along the way. San Jac was ranked in the top 20 throughout much of the season, and finished sixth at the national tournament. Two players were named all-region, and Nelson was crowned the Region XIV District M Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.

In 2005 and 2006, it was much of the same for San Jac. SJC was region champs both years, Nelson was the District M Coach of the Year both years (sharing the honor with then-assistant coach Jeff Ham), and the squad finished 11th and eighth, respectively, at the national tournament. In 2006, freshman middle blocker Nyla Ware was named an NJCAA all-American, and five of Nelson’s players were named all-conference. The 2005 season saw Nelson’s players nab five all-region selections, and another NJCAA all-American honor.

Nelson began her San Jac career in 2002, guiding her squad to a second-place conference finish that year. Nelson’s San Jac squads have garnered four conference championships and three regional titles.

Nelson is no stranger to the Houston area, having grown up just south of the city in Alvin. She graduated from Alvin High School in 1988, and went on to attend Alvin Community College, where she graduated in 1990. Nelson then played volleyball at Eastern New Mexico University, where she was a three-time all-conference player, and twice an academic all-American.

 

Mike McCrary
Assistant Coach
Florida State University

Mike McCrary is in his first season as assistant coach for the San Jacinto College volleyball team. McCrary comes to San Jac with three years of college coaching experience, and over 12 as a club coach.

"Mike is a solid trainer with a great deal of volleyball knowledge,” said head coach Sharon Nelson. “He is well respected in the volleyball world, and has high expectations for our players and our program. I’m happy to have him on my staff."

McCrary’s junior college coaching experience includes two years at Foothill College, where he was a setter / outside hitter as a player, and a year in the Region XIV conference at Galveston College. His club coaching includes AVA Texas where he took his team to USVA Junior Nationals twice in the under 18 division.

McCrary hails from League City where he played for Clear Creek High School. He went on to play at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, before transferring to Florida State University where he was a setter for the Seminoles.