University of Portland Athletics

Nellie Coleman was hired as an assistant coach during the spring of 2014 and then transitioned into her current administrative assistant role following the 2015 season so that she could focus on her family.

Coleman has been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2008 and played professionally for five years (2009-13).
 
Coleman followed an All-American career as a setter at UCLA (2005-09) with a five-year stint on the U.S. Women’s National Team. With Team USA, Coleman helped claimed a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Cup, a silver at the Montreux Volley Masters in 2010, a gold at the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix and a silver at the 2009 Final Four Intercontinental Cup. Coleman also took part in exhibition tours with Team USA in Brazil (2010), Egypt (2009) and China (2008).
 
A native of Barrington, Ill., Coleman has played professionally for the past five years, most recently with the Shanghai Volleyball Club in the Chinese Volleyball Association. Before that, she played two years in the Azerbaijan Volleyball League for both the Lokomotiv and Rabita Baku Volleyball Clubs. She helped Rabita Baku claim a league title and finish fifth in the Champions League in 2012. Prior to that, Coleman spent a year playing pro in Poland and a year playing in Puerto Rico.
 
At UCLA, Coleman, who was then Nellie Spicer, was a three-time AVCA First Team All-American. She was also a three-time all-region selection, landed on the All-Pac-10 Team four times and was named to the league’s all-freshman team in 2005. She finished her career ranked second all-time at UCLA with 6,000 assists and third in digs with 1,299 and she helped lead the Bruins to a Final Four appearance as a sophomore in 2006. UCLA reached the NCAA’s Elite Eight in 2007 and made it to the Sweet 16 during Coleman’s senior campaign in 2008.
 
Coleman, who holds the Illinois state high school record for most aces in a season (106), also participated on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team that competed at the FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship. She also helped the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team to the gold medal at the NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship.