Evangel University Athletics

Softball Coaching Staff

Jerry Breaux

Jerry Breaux

Head Coach

(417) 865-2815 ext. 7265
Email Coach Breaux - School Bio

Jerry Breaux will enter his 19th year as Evangel University's head softball coach in 2011. Breaux has helped guide the Evangel program from its infancy to national prominence while capturing 10 Heart of America Athletic Conference championships since 1996. He guided the Crusaders to six straight league titles from 2004 to 2009. Evangel has been ranked in the NAIA's top 25 every season since 2000.

Breaux was honored last December with the Easton Victory Club award from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for his 500th career win at the college level achieved last season. Breaux has a career record of 526-329-2 (.615) in 18 years as head coach at Evangel. Within the Heart of America conference, Breaux is 231-87-1 (.728) and has been a remarkable 128-31-1 (.803) in the league since 2004. He has been named HAAC Coach of the Year six times (1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009) and NAIA Region V Coach of the Year twice (1997 and 2007).

Read more about Coach Breaux.

Christianna Nelson

Christianna Nelson

Pitching Coach

(417) 865-2815 ext. 7265
Email Coach Nelson - School Bio

Chistianna Nelson enters her second season as an assistant with the Evangel softball program and her first year as the full time pitching coach. Nelson graduated from Evangel in 2007 completing a degree in Business Management. In addition to coaching duties, Nelson is also an equipment coordinator for the Evangel athletics department.

Nelson pitched for Evangel for two seasons and was an honorable mention All-Conference pick in 2007 and was a part of two conference championship teams. She played the first two years of college career at Morningside (Iowa) University. Both of Nelson's sisters are also tied to Crusaders softball as Kaylee played for the Evangel from 2005-08 and Marriana enters her junior season this year.

Originally from Edina, Minnesota, Nelson currently resides in Springfield.

Donovan Nelson

Donovan Nelson

Assistant Coach

(417) 865-2815 ext. 7190
Email Coach Nelson - School Bio

Donovan Nelson begins his fourth year with the Crusader softball program in 2012. Nelson has served as pitching coach for the last two seasons but is shifting to a volunteer assistant’s role this season. He will be in his 16th season coaching softball overall including six years as a high school head coach, eight years as a collegiate assistant and two seasons as a collegiate head coach. His time has included stints in Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. He also volunteered his time with Wichita State and the University of Arkansas.

Coach Nelson has played men’s fastpitch softball since 1988. He was a catcher/1B for the Northwest Missouri Honda teams that won two National Championships (1989, 1992), one national runner-up (1990), and four Missouri state championships (1989-1990, 1992, 1997).

Coach Nelson is an assistant professor of Recreation and Sport Administration. He graduated from Graceland University ('98) with degrees in Athletic Training and Health, Physical Education and from Wichita State ('03) with a master's degree in Sport Administration. He lives in Springfield with his wife Glynis and their children Brighton, Rigley and Adleigh.