Corky Nelson is a former American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 player and coach. He is known for his coaching stint at the University of North Texas

University of North Texas

The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...

, but was more successful on the high school level

High school football

High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....

.

Nelson was an all-conference linebacker and center at Texas State University–San Marcos

Texas State University–San Marcos

Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...

, where he was captain of the 1963 team that went undefeated. He began coaching at the high school level soon after his graduation, first at Alamo Heights High School

Alamo Heights High School

Alamo Heights High School is a secondary school located in the city of Alamo Heights, Texas and is the only high school in the Alamo Heights Independent School District....

 as an assistant, then at Harlandale High School

Harlandale High School

Harlandale High School is the flagship school for the Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas....

 as head coach. He briefly got into the collegiate ranks as defensive line and linebacker coach at the University of North Texas, but left after one season.

In 1971, Nelson became head coach at football tradition-rich John Tyler High School

John Tyler High School

John Tyler High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Tyler, Texas. It is part of the Tyler Independent School District and serves 9th through 12th grade...

 in Tyler, Texas

Tyler, Texas

Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...

. In 1973, he guided a Lions team that featured Earl Campbell

Earl Campbell

Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...

 to a perfect 15–0 season as well as the state championship in the largest classification. Nelson then became defensive coordinator

Defensive coordinator

A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...

 under coach Grant Teaff

Grant Teaff

Grant Garland Teaff is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at McMurry University , Angelo State University , and Baylor University , compiling a career college football record of 170–151–8...

 at Baylor University

Baylor University

Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...

. In 1982, he was named head coach at North Texas, succeeding Bob Tyler

Bob Tyler

Bob Tyler is a former American football coach. He coached in the high school and collegiate ranks.A native of Water Valley, Mississippi, Tyler was a star athlete at Water Valley High School before entering military service. Following his term of duty at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Tyler achieved...

. He was also named the programs athletic director in 1989. Following the 1990 season, his contract was not renewed.

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