Cory Nelms is in his first year as Ave Maria's Director of Sports Performance, a role that sees him spearhead Ave Maria's strength and conditioning programs for all Olympic sports on campus.
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Nelms is a graduate of the University of Miami, where he was a two-sport athlete for the Hurricanes. On the football field, he was a crucial special teams contributor and helped Miami to bowl game appearances in each of his final three years on campus.
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As a track competitor, Nelms was a two-time ACC Champion, winning the 2009 Indoor title in the 60-meter hurdles and the 2010 Outdoor crown in the 110-meter hurdles. He holds the Miami record in the 400-meter hurdles, and is a member of school-record teams in the 4x100 meter and sprint medley relays. Nelms was a team captain during his senior season, and amassed All-ACC and All-American honors.
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Following his career at Miami, Nelms played three seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. During his time with the 49ers, he was awarded the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award, an honor given to a first-year player that "has taken advantage of every opportunity, turned it into a positive situation and made their dream turn into a reality." He made his NFL debut in 2012, seeing time on the field for the Raiders against the San Diego Chargers.
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Nelms returned to Miami as an assistant coach in the Track and Field program after the conclusion of his NFL career. Nelms served as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to a full-time coach in October 2015, working as a strength and conditioning coach with the team's sprinters and hurdlers. He is also a speed and agility consultant to the National Council on Strength and Fitness, and operates Nelms Performance, LLC,
