CHRIS NELSON
Men's Soccer 1999 - 2002
CHRIS NELSON was an award-winning goalkeeper for the UT Dallas men’s soccer team during one of the most successful periods in that program’s history. In each of his four seasons, Nelson often shared time in the net with other top players, but still set a number of individual records during his career.
Nelson came to UT Dallas in 1999 after a successful career at Odessa Permian High School and immediately made an impact as a freshman that fall. During that season, Nelson set UTD single season records in goals against (0.94 per game) and save percentage (.830), making 73 saves during a season that the Comets finished 16-3-1 and were undefeated in American Southwest Conference play.
During his four-year career, Nelson was an integral part of a UTD men’s soccer team that lost just 14 of 78 games and was 43-3-1 against ASC competition.
Despite sharing time in the net, he still ranks first among UTD goalkeepers in several career statistical categories, allowing just 0.91 goals per game played and recording a .835 career save percentage. Nelson also ranks in the Top 5 in several other career and single season categories, including total saves, wins and shutouts.
He was named twice to the American Southwest Conference All-Conference team, earning first-team honors in 2002.
Nelson graduated from UT Dallas in 2004 with a double major in biology and criminal justice. He is currently a manager at a Pappasito’s Cantina restaurant in Richardson. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in McKinney, Texas.
