John Nelson was named the sixth head coach of Augustana softball in September of 2023.
In his first season, the Vikings went 26-15; the most overall wins in a season since 2015 and the most conference wins since 2006. The Vikings took second place in the CCIW during the regular season, affording them a two seed in the conference tournament where they finished third overall. More importantly, Coach Nelson set in motion a Championship Team Culture with 100 percent return in players and coaches. Many of the Vikings earned awards along the way including postseason awards on both the academic and athletic fronts. Six of the Augustana Softball players made the All-Conference Team. 1st Team: Nadia Ranieri. Second Team: Morgan Bieldfeldt, Claudia Buchholz, Brooke Hartzell, McKensey Stontz, and Lauren Koster. Three Vikings earned CSC Academic All-District honors; Morgan Bieldfeldt, Claudia Buchholz, and Nadia Ranieri. Twelve players made the CCIW Dave Wrath & Jack Swartz Academic List: Marley Behm, Morgan Bielfeldt, Olivia Blood, Claudia Buchholz, Emma Evans, Emily Gad, Brooke Hartzell, Alyssa Magsombol, Ashlyn Mathers, Nadia Ranieri, Allison Roessler, and Maya Viel. Alyssa Magsombol earned the CCIW Respect Award.
CCIW Hitters of the week were awarded to Claudia Buchholz, Nadia Ranieri, and McKensey Stontz and Nadia Ranieri won the CCIW Pitcher of the week multiple times. Nadia Ranieri also won the Atlantic Coke Women's Student-Athlete of week as well in a season where she broke the career strikeouts record with 491 strikeouts.
In Nelson's second season, the Vikings went 28-14, surpassing the most overall wins that was set in his first season. The Vikings took second place in the CCIW during the regular season, securing the two seed in the conference tournament, where they finished second overall. After the season, multiple student-athletes earned postseason awards in both academic and athletic categories. Seven players earned a spot in the All-Conference Team, which was the most in the program since 2009, along with four First Team honorees since 2007. Alexis Duke was crowned the conference's First-Year Player of the Year to go along with her First Team, along with Aubrey Gradin, McKensey Stontz, and Emma Evans. Second Team: Lauren Koster, Alaina Diaz, Anna Maciejewski. Two Vikings were named to the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association): McKensey Stontz (First Team), Aubrey Gradin (Third Team). Aubrey Gradin was named a finalist for the NFCA Division III Freshman of the Year award. Two student-athletes earned CSC Academic All-District honors: Emma Evans and Mikaylin Hofer. Mikaylin Hofer was named the recipient of the CCIW's RESPECT Award.
Coach Nelson came to Augustana after serving as the head coach of Rockridge High School in Milan, Ill. During his time at Rockridge, Nelson has won all four state titles his team has appeared in, also becoming one of three IHSA softball teams ever to win three titles in a row. Since 2014, the Rockets have boasted a 48-5 postseason record (.906 winning percentage) and have racked up 22 straight playoff wins. In 2023, the team went undefeated and was Trac West champions, the eighth straight year of winning at least a share of the conference crown. Additionally, Rockridge is the only program in IHSA history to finish as undefeated state champions in back-to-back seasons. The Rockets have not lost two games in a row under Nelson since 2014. Every freshman player who has played all four seasons with Rockridge since 2015 has won a state title.
Nelson has been the president of the Heartland Havoc girls fastpitch organization (Illinois ASA HOF 2007) since 2007 and has coached in the organization since 2005. His teams have produced many Division I players, also having coached players who were drafted into the women's pro fastpitch softball league. Several teams in the Heartland Havoc organization have won various state and national titles, including two teams finishing in the top 20 at the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) National tournament in Huntington Beach, California (Havoc '05 & Havoc '07 coached by Augie assistant, Jacob Bautista). Havoc has more Illinois ASA/USA State Championships than any other organization in the state of Illinois. Nelson also is the Tournament Director for one of the largest USAES World Fast Pitch Qualifiers in the state, The Heartland Shootout. Havoc also hosts several other large tournaments with one being the Illinois/Iowa USSSA State Championship. Additionally, he also teaches hitting lessons to 65 students on a weekly basis.
Nelson is a lifelong resident of the Quad Cities and graduated from Alleman High School in Rock Island. He owns a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Studies from Grand Canyon University.
Nelson lives at home with his high school sweetheart and wife, Jennifer (a registered surgical nurse), two labs, Benny & Jett, & vizsla Stella, along with a cat, Mario, and a fish tank full of fish. His children, Alex Nelson (Madison Wis.), a graduate of University of Illinois, now works at the University of Wisconsin and Avery Nelson-Owens (Davenport, Iowa), played DI college softball at IPFW, but graduated from University of Iowa and owns a wedding and special events company called "Toast Worthy Events by Avery."
Rockridge Softball Championship Culture Relaunch (Nelson Era): 2014 – 2023
279 Wins – 49 Losses (.851%)– 8X TRAC Conference Champs, 8X Regional Champs, 7X Sectional Champs, 6X Super-Sectional Champs, 6X State Final Four Appearances, 2X 3rd Place State Finish, 4 State Championships
2023 - Set the IHSA Most Consecutive Wins record (2019-2023) 73 consecutive wins – Has won 103 out of the last 104 games
2014: 25 wins – 11 losses - 2nd Place in TRAC South (9-2) – Regional Runners Up (Lost to Sherrard 11-1). All-Conference: (1st Team) Gabe Mueller, Lexi DeKeyrel, Callie Gosney, Erin Lingle, Ashley Minyard. (2nd Team) Michaela Stoneking, Jenna Carroll, Briana Olson. Dispatch/Argus All-Area: (1st Team) Lexi DeKeyrel, Callie Gosney, Erin Lingle, Ashley Minyard, Gabe Mueller. (Honorable Mention) Michaela Stoneking, Briana Olson, Jenna Carroll – All-State: Gabe Mueller (3rd Team) – TRAC Coach of the Year: John Nelson. Illinois Coaches Association Sectional Coach of the Year: John Nelson
2015: 26 wins -12 losses - 2nd Place in TRAC West (9-3)– Regional Champions, Sectional Runners up, “Sweet Sixteen” (Lost to Elmwood/Brimfield 4-0) All-Conference: (1st Team) Daria Parchert (Co-Player of the Year), Jenna Swanson, Ashley Minyard. (Second Team) Lexi DeKeyrel, Tayah Hayes, Erin Lingle, Makenzie Williams, Kelsey Garrett, Callie Gosney, Hannah Nelsen, Michaela Stoneking. Dispatch/Argus All-Area: (1st Team) Kelsey Garrett, Callie Gosney, Ashley Minyard, Daria Parchert. (Honorable Mention) Lexi DeKeyrel, Tayah Hayes, Hannah Nelsen, Michaela Stoneking, Jenna Swanson, Makenzie Williams. All-State: Daria Parchert (3rd Team) – TRAC Coach of the Year: John Nelson
2016: 34 wins – 6 losses – TRAC Conference Champs (13-0) – Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super-Sectional Champs – Illinois State Finalist – 3rd Place; Lost to Carterville 5-4 in Semi Final, then beat St. Edward 12-2. All-Conference: (1st Team) Tayah Hayes, Erin Lingle, Jenna Swanson, Ashley Minyard, Amelia Thomas. (2nd Team) Daria Parchert, Hannah Nelsen (Honorable Mention) Kelsey Garrett, Kadey Garrett. Dispatch/Argus All-Area Team: Tayah Hayes (Player of the Year). (1st Team) Erin Lingle, Ashley Minyard, Daria Parchert, Jenna Swanson, Amelia Thomas. (Honorable Mention) Maddie Bayne, Kadey Garrett, Kelsey Garrett, Hannah Nelsen. All-State: Tayah Hayes (2nd Team), Erin Lingle (3rd Team), Amelia Thomas. TRAC Coach of the Year: John Nelson. Illinois Coaches Association Sectional Coach of the Year: John Nelson
2017: 31 wins – 7 losses – TRAC Conference Co-Champs (9-1). Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super-Sectional Runners Up “Elite Eight” (Lost to Morrison 9-6). All-Conference: (First Team) Jenna Swanson, Maddie Bayne, Ashley Minyard, Daria Parchert, Hannah Nelsen. (Second Team) Amelia Thomas, Grace Preston (Honorable Mention) Kelsey Garrett. Dispatch/Argus All-Area Team: Jenna Swanson (Player of the Year). (1st Team) Maddie Bayne, Kelsey Garrett, Ashley Minyard, Hannah Nelsen, Daria Parchert, Amelia Thomas. (Honorable Mention) Kadey Garrett, Grace Preston. All-State: Amelia Thomas (2nd Team), Jenna Swanson (2nd Team), Kelsey Garrett (3rd Team), Hannah Nelsen (3rd Team). Illinois Coaches Association Sectional Coach of the Year: John Nelson
2018: 29 wins – 5 losses – TRAC Undefeated Conference Champs (10-0) – Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super-Sectional Champs, IHSA 2A STATE CHAMPIONS (Beat Pinckneyville 4-3 in Semi-Final – Beat Beecher 5-2 in Title Game). All-Conference: (1st Team) Grace Preston, Sarah Bisland, Amelia Thomas, Kadey Garrett, Lea Kendall, Hailee Dehner (Second Team) Addison Riley (Honorable Mention) Abby Redlinger, Elena Martinez. Dispatch/Argus All-Area Team: Amelia Thomas (Player of the Year). (1st Team) Sarah Bisland, Hailee Dehner, Kadey Garrett, Lea Kendall, Grace Preston. (Honorable Mention) Elena Martinez, Abby Redlinger, Addison Riley. All-State: Amelia Thomas (1st Team), Grace Preston (2nd team), Kadey Garrett (3rd Team). Illinois Coaches Association Sectional Coach of the Year: John Nelson
2019: 32 wins – 7 losses – TRAC Undefeated Conference Champs (10-0) – Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super-Sectional Champs, Illinois State Finalist – 3rd Place; Lost to Beecher 5-4 in Semi-Final, then beat Olympia (Stanford) 2-1. All-Conference: (1st Team) Kadey Garrett, Amelia Thomas, Olivia Drish, Hailee Dehner. (Second Team) Lexi Hines, Lea Kendall, Addison Riley, Grace Irwin. (Honorable Mention) Bailah Bognar. Dispatch/Argus All-Area Team: Amelia Thomas (Player of the Year), Lea Kendall, Kadey Garrett, Hailee Dehner. Lexi Hines, Olivia Drish. (Honorable Mention) Grace Irwin, Addison Riley, Ella Rursch. All-State: Amelia Thomas (1st Team), Kadey Garrett (2nd Team), Lea Kendall (2nd Team), Lexi Hines (3rd team).
2020: Pre-Season Ranked #1 in the State – Season Canceled due to COVID-19
2021: 29 Wins – 0 - Losses - TRAC West Undefeated Conference Champs (10-0) – Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super Sectional Champs, IHSA 2A STATE CHAMPIONS (Beat Massac County 1-0 in Semi Final - Beat Joliet Catholic Academy 4-0 in Championship Game). All Conference: (1st Team) Olivia Drish, Lea Kendall, Bailah Bognar, Lexi Hines, Payton Brown, Kendra Lewis. (2nd Team) Taylor Sedam. (Honorable Mention) Kori Needham. Dispatch/Argus/Times Western Illinois Player of the Year: Kendra Lewis. All-State: (1st Team) Lea Kendall, Lexi Hines, Kendra Lewis. (2nd Team) Payton Brown. Dispatch / QC Times All Western Illinois Softball Team: 1st Team: Kendra Lewis, Bailah Bognar, Olivia Drish, Payton Brown, Lexi Hines, Lea Kendall. Honorable Mention: Kori Needham, Taylor Sedam.
2022: 35 Wins – 0 - Losses - TRAC West Undefeated Conference Champs (11-0) – Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super Sectional Champs, IHSA 2A STATE CHAMPIONS (Beat Pontiac 5-3 in Semi Final - Beat Freeburg 5-4 in Championship Game – 11 inns.). All Conference: (1st Team) Kendra Lewis, Bailah Bognar, Lexi Hines, Payton Brown, Kori Needham. (2nd Team) Taylor Sedam, Keaton Frere. (Honorable Mention) Cierra Bush Dispatch/Argus/Times Western Illinois Player of the Year: Kendra Lewis. All-State: (1st Team) Kendra Lewis, Payton Brown. (2nd Team) Bailah Bognar, Kori Needham. Dispatch / QC Times All Western Illinois Softball Team: 1st Team: Kendra Lewis, Bailah Bognar, Payton Brown, Kori Needham. 2nd Team: Lexi Hines. Honorable Mention: Keaton Frere, Taylor Sedam, Cierra Bush. MaxPreps Illinois Player of the Year: Kendra Lewis. *USA TODAY RANKS THIS TEAM AS 6TH IN THE NATION. * QC TIMES SALUTE TO SPORTS FEMALE ATHLETE TEAM OF THE YEAR
2023 – 38 wins -1 Loss – IHSA 2A STATE CHAMPIONS. More awards to list as they come in.
Set the IHSA Most Consecutive Wins record (2019-2023) 73 consecutive wins – Has won 103 out of the last 104 games.
*Payton Brown breaks the state’s all-time home run in a season record (27). Team owns season homerun record of 88.
* MaxPreps names Kendra Lewis the best softball player in the state for 2023.
*MaxPreps names Rockridge Softball the best team in the state for 2023 & ranked them 12th in the country.
**SBLive Sports names Rockridge Softball 6th in the nation in their Top 25 Power Rankings.
John Nelson: ICA Sectional Coach of the Year. John Nelson: NFCA/IHSA Softball Coach of the Year
IHSA Records:
Team: In the record books for most runs in scored in a season, Most RBIs in a season, most hits in a season, most doubles in a season & most homeruns in a season.
**Longest State Title Game in IHSA 2A State History (11 innings – 2 Hours 47 Minutes).
Kendra Lewis: Most pitches thrown in a state title game.
Coach Nelson: Most State Tournament Appearances by a 2A Coach 6 (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), Most State Championships by a 2A Coach: 4 (2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
***THE ONLY TEAM IN IHSA SOFTBALL HISTORY TO REPEAT AS UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPS – 3rd TEAM IN STATE HISTORY TO THREE-PEAT AS STATE CHAMPS 2021, 2022, 2023
