Odessa football coach Jeff Nelson steps down from position

Nelson coached perhaps the two most dominant Class 1B programs in state history in LaCrosse-Washtucna and Odessa

After 34 years on the sideline, Odessa coach Jeff Nelson is calling it a career.

During his time coaching, Nelson's teams made regular appearances in not only the state playoffs, but state championship games.

So why hang up the headset after such sustained runs of success?

To put it simply, Nelson said he's tired.

"I just don't have the energy to do it," Nelson said. "That's what it comes down to."

His two assistant coaches both resigned after last season which also contributed to Nelson's own decision, he said.

Nelson's coaching career began in 1989 and would end with seven state championships on his resume.

He said having everyone from assistant coaches, players, parents and the community buying in to what he did made championships happen.

"[The community] fully supports everything I do and the kids are dedicated to it," Nelson said. "They understand what it takes to get to the next level in the offseason – lifting weights, conditioning – and you have to have a little bit of luck."

Nelson's first head coaching job came in 1994 at LaCrosse-Washtucna, a position he held until 2012.

In those 18 years, Nelson led LaCrosse-Washtucna to five Class 1B state championships, including four consecutive titles from 2002-05 and another in 2008.

Nelson's next stop was Odessa as an assistant coach before moving up the ladder to lead the team in 2015.

He notched two more state championships at Odessa, capturing back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019, giving him seven for his career.

In a career that spanned multiple decades, Nelson has his fair share of moments that stick out.

Hearing his son announced at the Tacoma Dome in a state championship game is one. His daughter's first football game when she was just four days old is another.

"That's just how it worked. Football and family," Nelson said.

When it comes down to it, Nelson said he hopes he's remembered as a coach that didn't just win games, but taught his players some life lessons along the way and was committed to the program.

And while Nelson firmly said he doesn't want to be a head coach anymore, he's not completely shutting the door on leaving the sidelines entirely.

"I wouldn't mind going to a well-established program under a good coach and just coming in, doing my part and not have to worry about all of the other things," Nelson said. "I would never rule out that I'm done. It wouldn't surprise me if I came back somewhere doing something."