Coach Wayne Nelson has been the boy’s head basketball coach for the last 4 years at Winslow Township High School. For unknown reasons decided by the school he will not be coaching for our team this year. He has made a lasting impact on every player that has had the opportunity to play under his role as coach. All the members of the team, parents and community feel as if there is a great injustice being done not only to him, but to the high school boys that are losing their coach and mentor. The players this year have already felt the mental stress due to Covid and a shorten season, which could possibly be canceled, but they cannot imagine what it would be like to lose their coach, mentor and role model. Each and every one of them are distraught over the loss of their coach. The Brotherhood that was formed by Coach Nelson has been exactly what the players needed. Even deeper than that, what young black men needed. The Brotherhood runs deep and every class that he has coached comes back and gives back to the next class.

Coach Nelson has only been coaching here for 4 years, but in those 4 years he has made a significant impact. His teams always make the playoffs, are always competitive and his greatest accomplish on the court so far was bringing the school its 3rd SJ sectional championship. A championship that a lot of people doubted he could ever win. But most importantly he has raised the standard and changed the culture academically. Winslow was known for having athletes who weren’t prepared academically for the next level . Coach Nelson has completely changed that by bringing up the teams GPA to above a 3.0 and consistently sending kids to college.

His successful playing career, coaching passion and connections separates him from most and there isn't any one that is better suited for the job. He knows the sport inside and out, he pushes us hard every day, and he cares for us a tremendous amount that we have not known from previous coaches. He has strived his entire career here to improve our abilities on and off the court. The loss of his leadership in our team will be the result in the potential loss of many players. He never sought recognition from others, that is something that speaks volumes to his character as a coach and as a man. He is a father figure, big brother and mentor to most of us. He believed in us when a lot of people didn’t. By losing Coach Nelson, you are losing one of the greatest individuals of our sports programs. By losing Coach Nelson, you are losing a remarkable man that has made many incredible impacts to this school, the students, and his players.

WE DON’T WANT TO PLAY FOR SOMEONE WHO QUIT ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE! WE WANT TO PLAY FOR COACH NELSON. SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS PUTS US AND THE PROGRAM FIRST!

In today’s world, with everything going on, we are told as black men to stand up and fight for what we believe in. That’s exactly what we are doing! Please stand with us and help bring our coach back!

The Brotherhood