Sam Nelson, Head Coach
Effective March 4, local tennis pro Sam Nelson took over the role of head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Concordia University. The move allows six-year head coach Amy Harms to focus more of her efforts on her position as the university’s director of strength and conditioning in addition to her roles as assistant women’s basketball coach and as a HHP instructor.
“I am very excited about the opportunity that lies in front of this program,” Nelson said. “I feel that this will be a very positive experience with great educators, a good student-athlete atmosphere and wonderful facilities. I am really looking forward to what the future brings for Concordia tennis.”
Nelson, currently the director of tennis at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln, began working with the Bulldog men and women at practices on March 4. The Lincoln East High School product brings many years of high-level teaching experience to the profession having been USPTA certified for 11 years.
“We are excited to welcome Sam to Concordia University,” Director of Athletics Devin Smith said. “His background of extensive tennis teaching experience speaks for itself. His hiring has many benefits in that we get a coach who we know will positively impact our tennis programs, while lightening the burden on Amy. I look forward to working with Sam and watching him as he helps grow Concordia tennis.”
Nelson has served as the director of tennis at Hillcrest since 2007 and is also a teaching professional at the Lincoln Racquet Club. In addition, he has held positions as the head of junior development at the Lincoln Racquet Club (1999-2008), Director of tennis at the Nebraska Tennis Center (2008-09), head teaching professional at the Nebraska Tennis Center (2009-2011) and Nebraska 14s team coach (2007).
As a player, Nelson competed at No. 1 singles and doubles at Barton Junior College in Great Bend, Kan. As a prep at Lincoln East, he led the Spartans to four team state championships from 1991-95 and was a two-time individual state champion. In 1990 he received the Nebraska Junior of the Year award and rose as high as No. 5 in singles and No. 2 in doubles in the Missouri Valley five-state region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and parts of Illinois.
Nelson and his wife Amber have two children: Hunter (five) and Sevaya (four months).
Amy Harms, Tennis Operations
Amy Harms, formerly Streuter, entered her sixth year as head coach for the Bulldogs in 2012-13. She transitioned to a role in tennis operations when Sam Nelson took over as head coach on March 4, 2013. Harms previously served as Concordia's assistant tennis coach prior to being elevated to head coach.
The Concordia men's squad was 10-9 overall and 4-3 in the GPAC in 2011 and 14-6 overall and 4-3 in the GPAC in 2010. The Bulldog women posted an 11-8 overall record with a 6-2 GPAC mark in 2011. In 2010, the women were 10-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play. Overall, the Concordia men went 49-43 and the women 53-33 under the direction of Coach Harms in her five-plus years as head coach.
In her first season, Harms was named the the 2008 GPAC women's tennis coach of the year. Harms graduated from Concordia with a bachelors degree in 2004 and a masters in curriculum and instruction in 2005. Harms was a multi-sport athlete, participating in both tennis and basketball.
On the basketball court, Harms was an All-GPAC selection and was a member of the Bulldog squad that won an NAIA record 33 straight games. She was also an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
In addition, Harms serves as Concordia's Director of Strength and Conditioniong. She is also the assistant women's basketball coach and an HHP Instructor at Concordia.
Contact Coach Harms
- 402-643-7381 (office) • Amy.Harms@cune.edu
James Ingrahm, Assistant Coach
Ingrahm enters his first season in 2012-13 as assistant coach for both the Bulldog men's and women's tennis programs.
Ingrahm comes to Concordia following a collegiate career in which he played for Abraham Baldwin Argicultural College (ranked No. 3 post-season at the National Junior College Athletic Association level) and Ouachita Baptist University (ranked No. 4 nationally in NCAA Division II upon Ingrahm’s arrival).
Ingrahm earned a degree in Business Management from OBU in 2012 and was also the recipient of the Jerry Forehand award, given to a collegiate senior who demonstrates outstanding character.
In 2010 he was also ranked fifth in his native country of Barbados. It is there during his summer and Christmas vacation where he serves as a tennis pro at the world renowned Sandy Lane resort.
He first learned of Concordia when he was interning for the US Senate on Capitol Hill during the summer of 2012.
His aims for the near future are to grow the Bulldog men’s and women’s tennis programs and help guide them to an appearance at the NAIA National Championships.
Contact Coach Ingrahm
