SALISBURY, Md. – Amidst a storied career at the helm of the Salisbury University women's lacrosse program, head coach
Jim Nestor was selected to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Hall of Fame class of 2024,
announced by the organization on Thursday afternoon.
A four-time national champion, Nestor recently began his 23rd season as head coach in 2024. In addition to a pair of undefeated seasons, the Laurel, Md. native has steered the team to 19 conference championships and 20 NCAA Tournament appearances while reaching the season's final game nine times.
Nestor has collected five IWLCA Coach of the Year awards and 14 IWLCA Chesapeake Region coaching honors. He has guided 12 IWLCA Players of the Year and nearly 60 All-Americans throughout his tenure at SU.
The two-time Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year ranks third in total wins among active Division III coaches and fourth against the crop in winning percentage. Across his 31 seasons as a head coach, Nestor has compiled a 468-92-1 overall record, good for a career .835 winning percentage. He carries a 389-53 record at Salisbury, winning 88 percent of his contests in the maroon and gold.
Nestor holds a claim on the longest Division III regular-season winning streak against conference opponents at 101 games and boasted the second-longest Division III home winning streak spanning 2012-15 at 48 contests.
"I am sincerely honored to stand among this exceptional class of coaches," Nestor said. "Each of us endeavors to be the finest leaders possible, and I believe my career merely mirrors the incredible opportunities lacrosse provides. Coaching has allowed me to work with some of the most remarkable individuals, and I am immensely proud and grateful to pursue my passion in such a fulfilling manner."
Before arriving at Salisbury, Nestor posted a 73-20-1 tally as the headman of Gannon University women's lacrosse, earning a winning record in each of his six seasons. He was named the IWLCA Division II Coach of the Year in 1996 and, shortly after, was tabbed the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by CollegeLacrosseUSA.com in 2000.
Nestor was a four-year letterman on the Sea Gull lacrosse and wrestling teams during his collegiate career, earning his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1990. He went on to complete a master's degree in health and physical education at Frostburg State in 1992.
Tickets for the 2024 IWLCA Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be available for purchase later this year. Sales will continue through early November.
Nestor and the Sea Gulls return to the field on Saturday, Feb. 17, traveling to the nation's capital for an afternoon clash with the Catholic University of America Cardinals. The contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from Carlini Field.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 197 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
