SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's soccer assistant coach, Kirk Nelson, has been chosen to coach at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Girls' Interregional Championships, Nov. 19-25, in Boca, Fla. Nelson has also been promoted to by the United State Soccer Federation to be a coaching education instructor for high school level to pro level players.
 
"I am very honored to be asked to participate in these prestigious events," commented Nelson. "Both of these opportunities are on my life's bucket list to experience. I am very proud to represent Missouri State University in the company of some of the best coaches, instructors, and players in the country."
 
Nelson has been called upon to be one of the coaches for the Region II girls' team, that will be competing against the other three regions for a championship title. The second region consists of 14 different state associations located in the Midwest, where the top-18 players have been selected to be on the team. Nelson was one of three coaches selected by the Region to serve as a coach for the prestigious event. U.S. National Team Scouts, Regional ODP Scouts and hundreds of college coaches will be on-hand to watch the games.
 
Two recent MSU women's soccer alums, Molly Huber and Kelsey Goff, competed in the ODP Girls' Interregional Championships and several MSU alums have participated in ODP on some level.
 
In December, Nelson will attend the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Coaching Education Conference for national instructors in Bradenton, Fla. For the last six years, Nelson has been a USSF coaching education instructor at the state and regional level, teaching soccer licensing courses to help coaches with their development along their coaching education pathway. The current pathway starts at the USSF "F" license and continues all the way up to the USSF "A" license.
 
Nelson has been instructing coaches taking the USSF "D" and "E" courses, which are geared toward coaching 9-14 year-olds. With his promotion, he will be instructing levels "A", "B" and "C", which are courses geared toward training coaches that work with 15-year-olds to college and pro level players.
 
Nelson has been an assistant coach for MSU coach Rob Brewer since the 2014 season. Prior to Missouri State, Nelson spent four seasons assisting with the University of Nevada and had a one-year stint with Washington State.