With Jane Nelson '83 at the helm of the Wheaton women's tennis program since 1986, the team has enjoyed unprecedented success. Nelson's teams have won 23 of the 39 CCIW Championships that have been contested since 1986.
Nelson guided the Thunder to their league-best 23rd CCIW title and first since 2019 in the fall of 2024, as the team finished 7-1 and concluded the conference regular season as co-champions with North Park and North Central. Nelson earned last fall's CCIW Women's Tennis Coach of the Year award for the 10th time since it began in 2003, extending her record for the most accolades of any CCIW women's tennis coach in that span. Wheaton's 23 titles in women's tennis is the second-highest amount among all CCIW women's sports, trailing only the 26 championships won by the Wheaton women's swimming & diving program.
Nelson's teams finished in the top three of the conference standings and owned winning records in every season between 2019-2024, dropping just seven league matches in that span.
In 2018-19, Nelson's squad won the CCIW AQ tournament to qualify for its 12th NCAA Tournament, winning a First Round match over John Carroll before finishing the season with a record of 17-6. Her squad won its 22nd CCIW Championship in the 2019-20 season, going 12-2 overall before their season was cut short in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nelson's 2017-18 squad returned to the top of the CCIW, narrowly winning the CCIW Championship. Wheaton also won the CCIW AQ Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time under Nelson. Wheaton finished the season with a record of 16-4.
She guided Wheaton to its tenth-straight CCIW Championship in the fall of 2014. The Thunder won its ninth-straight CCIW Championship in the fall of 2013 and also won the CCIW AQ Tournament in the spring to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Wheaton finished its season with a record of 15-6.
Wheaton won its eighth-straight conference championship in the fall of 2012 with Nelson earning CCIW Coach of the Year honors. Wheaton won the CCIW AQ Tournament and reached the second round of the NCAA Touranment before concluding its season with a record of 17-5.
In fall 2011, the Thunder won its seventh-straight conference title and Nelson earned CCIW Coach of the Year. The team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, wrapping up its season record at 20-3.
The 2010-11 season saw Wheaton win its 16th conference title and once again reach round two of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Nelson picked up her 16th CCIW Coach of the Year award as well.
The 2009-10 version of the Thunder won its 15th conference title handily and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. Nelson was named CCIW Coach of the Year as Wheaton tallied a season record of 18-5.
The 2008-09 season saw Wheaton tally an 18-5 team record and win its 14th conference title. The No. 18-ranked Thunder qualified for the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament and reached the third round. Doubles partners Jordan Hook and Elizabeth Worsowicz both earned All-American honors from the ITA.
During the 2007-2008 season, Nelson led the Thunder to their league-best 13th conference title. Nelson's 2007-08 team posted a 22-4 record and earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament, advancing to the third round. With an overall record of 22-4, Wheaton advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. Jordan Hook earned her third consecutive All-American recognition under Nelson in 2007-08. Hook was a semifinalist at the 2007 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Singles championship.
In the 2006-07 campaign, Wheaton won its second straight CCIW Championship and 12th conference title. The Thunder posted an 18-2 record as Jordan Hook advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Singles Championship and the tandem of Hook and Karly Olson advanced to the semis of the Division III Doubles Championship.
The Thunder finished the 2005-06 season with a 19-3 record and won its first CCIW Championship since the 2001-2002 season. Wheaton advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the year ranked 13th in the country. Elizabeth Maclellan and Jordan Hook competed in the singles and doubles national championships, as each player earned All-American recognition for singles play.
A Division III All-American in women's tennis herself, Nelson has coached Claudia Bessey (1986-87), Elizabeth Maclellan (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06) and Jordan Hook (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) to All-America honors in singles competition. Hook and Karly Olson also earned All-America honors in doubles play in 2006-07.
Nelson came to Wheaton from Flossmoor, Illinois, where she attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School. She starred in tennis and basketball at Wheaton College, and in 1983, graduated from the school with a bachelor's degree in physical education and an Illinois teaching certificate.
As a freshman tennis player in 1980, Nelson was the AIAW Division III national flight three singles champion and was named AIAW Division III All-American. As a junior, Nelson was a doubles runner-up in the NCAA Division III national tournament and was named NCAA All-American. The Wheaton team finished third in the NCAA Division III National Championships.
She also led the basketball team in scoring and was team captain in her junior and senior seasons and ranks in the top 15 in Wheaton history in scoring (1,182 points), field goals (531), free throw pct. (.736), rebounds (542), steals (163), free throws (120), and assists (141). Nelson was Wheaton's assistant basketball coach for three seasons (1989-92) and was part of Wheaton's 22-4 CCIW championsip team in 1991-92.
She was inducted into Wheaton's Athletic "Hall of Honor" in 1994 for her achievements in women's basketball and tennis and as part of the entire 1982 women's tennis team that received induction in October 1997.
"I enjoy the opportunity to integrate my Christian faith and athletics," Nelson said. "I love coaching because it gives me a chance to help my players grow spiritually as well as become better tennis players."
