A different person from Charlotte Latin Athletics is featured on the first Tuesday of each month with twenty questions to help the CLS community get to know some of our athletes, coaches, and supporters a bit better.
 
This month, meet Mike Nelson. He joined the Latin family in 2019 as a boys' basketball coach, working as an assistant with both the Middle School and Varsity Boys' teams. You can also spot Mike on the fields this spring officiating girls' lacrosse. As a former high school and collegiate athlete, a coach, and an official, Mike has a unique view of the dynamics of youth and scholastic athletics. He also has an impressive "real" job and a young family. Read on to get to know a bit about Coach Nelson.
 
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Raleigh, mostly. I went through middle school and the first two years of high school there, at Broughton High School, then we moved to Hagerstown, MD, where I graduated from St. Maria Goretti High School.
 
2. Was the move to a new city and a new school a big change for you?
It was. Going from Broughton to St. Maria showed me that I do better in a smaller school environment, which impacted my college decision.
 
3. What was your family like growing up?
We were and still are a close family. My mom worked for the state in disability determination services and my dad worked for the Bureau of Prisons and also officiated a lot of different sports. My sister, Brittany, is three years younger than me, and we were raised to respect and love our sibling. Of course we had disagreements, but they didn't last long. For the most part we're very tight. My parents are retired now and enjoying life near the water in Wilmington.
 
4. It sounds like your parents' example may have impacted your career path, but let's come back to that.  Were you involved in a lot of youth sports?
I primarily played basketball. My mom tells the story often of being with me at a Chuck E Cheese sometime when I was in elementary school, and watching me do the shooting game. I was hitting every shot and the prize tickets were just coming out of the machine, so a little crowd formed to watch me and cheer me on. She says that's when she knew I needed to play basketball. I played some football in eighth through tenth grades, but that's about it. Football is fun, but I love basketball.  
 
5. Given your size, I suspect the football coaches were regularly trying to recruit you?  
Oh yeah. The football coaches were not happy. They wanted me to keep playing. Actually, in college, I was in one of the football coaches' classes and he pulled me aside and asked me to come out for the team. I did for the spring ball and training, but then my basketball coach got wind of it and put an end to it.
 
6. You played basketball in college. Had that always been a goal of yours?  
I didn't realistically think I had a chance to play in college until I moved to Hagerstown. I wasn't really confident in my abilities when I was in Raleigh, but then we moved to Hagerstown. (Coach) Cokey Robertson really gave me confidence and helped me remain confident. He was tough on me, but he was always in my corner, which is exactly how my parents raised me. Cokey was an advocate for me, talking to college coaches, giving me suggestions on things I needed to do on the court. He is a really good man and had a big influence on me in high school.
 
7. Are you two still in touch?
Yes, absolutely. We talk about once a month. He's still in Hagerstown and even though he's retired and getting into his nineties, he is still training kids. He coached Rodney Monroe, who went on to play at NC State and in the NBA and is now the coach at Southlake Christian. That connection is how I met Coach Berger – through Rodney Monroe. Rodney told me Berger runs his program just like Cokey does.
 
8. Do you agree? Is Coach Berger's approach similar to Coach Robertson?  
Definitely. Cokey was all about integrity, playing the right way, teaching morals, which is what Berger focuses on here. They are both very big on brotherhood, always helping your brother up and continuing to support one another and give back as alumni.
 
9. Long before you started coaching at Latin, you got your current "real" job with the Department of Justice. What's your role there?  
I work as a records examiner/asset forfeiture specialist for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Basically I handle all the property that the agents bring in, and also analyze reports and seize certain assets from people they're working cases on. I enjoy it. It's fun. It's something new every day.
 
10. You mentioned earlier that your dad worked as an official. Is that how you got into it?   
He definitely influenced me. Growing up, he worked softball, baseball, basketball, football – he did everything. He was an NCAA basketball official and oversaw some NBA games before he retired. Watching him and seeing how he did things, how he handled himself, I definitely noticed. I've pretty much always coached, even when I was playing ball, then I started working as a basketball ref during college and continued to do that when I first moved to Charlotte. I started officiating girls' lacrosse back in 2014 when someone I knew through Crossfit suggested I watch some games she was working. The first game I saw, I thought, "This is just like basketball. I can do this." The correlation between basketball and women's lacrosse is pretty cool. In my opinion, it's the same sport, except you're on a field and you have sticks.
 
11. You've stuck with it, so you must enjoy it. How has it been different than officiating basketball?  
I love it. I feel like it's something I'm good at. Within two years, I was working college games, and I've gotten better since then. I enjoy the camaraderie of the officials, and I really enjoy the fast-paced nature of the sport. The girls are so athletic and fast, and it's a lot of fun to be out there, seeing it up close. It's also great exercise. I can get 5-8 miles of running in during a game. There are a lot of differences, but in basketball, everyone is on top of you and everyone thinks they know the game and what they're talking about. In lacrosse, the spectators are up in the stands and that separation makes it easier to focus on the game.
 
12. Scheduling officials has become a challenge for athletic departments like ours. What has changed, in your opinion, and what can be done to make it better?  
There are a lot fewer officials now than there were when I started. People are not staying in it, for sure. There have always been spectators who are a nuisance, but now there are coaches who are disrespectful, and players who are disrespectful. There are some teams that dispute every call. I can handle it, but I'd rather not. It's what drove me away from officiating basketball. The coaches should be focused on teaching the players, the players should be holding themselves accountable, and the spectators should be focused on supporting the players. What can be done? Just remain respectful at all times. Thing about how you would like to be treated at your place of work. Be nice. Enjoy the game.
 
13. What has been one of your most enjoyable moments as a coach at Charlotte Latin?
Watching our varsity boys' (basketball) team last year, defensively. With Danny, Jaylen, Lavitt, and Kap and Tyler coming off the bench, our defensive pressure was unbelievable and the kids always supported one another. I'd never seen the level of team defense that they displayed every game. How hard they played, the communication, competing at every turn, and the brotherhood they had. That was special. (Editor's note: The players mentioned above are Daniel Haughton '22, Jaylen Jones '22, Brandon Lavitt '22, Cameron Kaplan '22, and Tyler Hendley '23)
 
14. You've got a pretty great support system yourself, often sitting in the stands behind the Latin team bench. What can you tell us about your family?  
My wife Megan played basketball at Castleton University in Vermont. She and I met when we were both coaching at Carolina Courts, and we were married in October 2018. Our son, Major, just turned two in January, and he's a very happy kid. He loves being outside, he loves Baby Shark, all cars and trucks, and he's into basketball and soccer. Those are the things he gravitates to right now. And we have a six-year-old Labradoodle named Louis.
 
15. Alright, let's finish with some fun questions. What's your favorite holiday and why?
Fourth of July. It's just family time, warm weather, and a long day at either the pool or the beach.
 
16. What's the best vacation you've ever had?
Arizona for my best friend's bachelor party. It was the same weekend as the Final Four.
 
17.  Do you have a splurge food or a favorite dessert?
Sweet Potato Pie
 
18. Can you cook? If so, what is your specialty?
I can cook. My specialty? Collard greens. Or actually, I make really good homemade popcorn. You heat peanut oil in a pot and you have to use Top Secret kernels. Top Secret has the best kernels. Once it starts popping, you put the lid on. Add a little salt, a little bit of pepper, and put a little melted butter drizzled on top. Shake it all up and it's unbelievable.
 
19. What has been your favorite Latin sports memory so far?  
The 8^th grade basketball conference championship, three or four years ago. It was a really fun season. Coaching middle school is different. It's such an in-between age and the kids are all at different levels of size, strength, and maturity. It's definitely cool to watch them develop from the 7^th and 8^th grade teams through JV and, hopefully, on to varsity. We just want to make sure we get them ready for the pushing that they're going to get in Upper School.
 
20. When you were in kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?  
A meteorologist. And now? I wouldn't mind coaching basketball. That's kind of my dream. I love the sport and I love coaching.