Sharon Nelson
Phone: (281) 478-3656
sharon.nelson@sjcd.edu

Sharon Nelson
Head Coach
Eastern New Mexico University (1993)
Overall record: 203-78 (seven seasons)
Conference record: 56-5 (seven seasons)

Now in her eighth 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 the College, Nelson’s teams have won 72 percent of their matches, claimed four conference titles, and finished in the top 11 at the national tournament in each of the last four seasons. Now, Nelson is poised and ready to once again guide her charges to another conference championship and a return trip to the NJCAA national tournament.

2008 was the most successful season under Nelson. In its fourth straight trip to the national tournament, San Jac finished fifth – the highest national finish under Nelson – with a 33-3 overall record, 10-0 in conference play. Five players, including all four sophomores and one freshman, signed to play with Division II schools. Setter Abbey Parker led the nation in assists per game for most of the season, and Zuzana Cizova finished fifth in kills per game. Nelson was named the Region XIV coach of the year, Cizova was the conference’s player of the year, and Parker earned setter of the year honors. In addition, five players were named to the all-conference team.

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.

 

Michael McCrary
Assistant Coach
Florida State University (1996)
Second season

Michael McCrary is in his second 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.

“Michael 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 three years at City Beach in Santa Clara, and a year with the AVA 18 Open. He is currently a coach for the Texas Tornadoes.

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.

McCrary and his wife, Chloe, who played volleyball at San Jacinto College from 20xx-20xx, are the proud parents of a baby boy, Dylan