Todd Nelson

Todd Nelson was named the 28th head coach in franchise history in August 2022. The former Hershey defender brings more than two decades of coaching experience to Hershey, and is one of just three individuals to win a Calder Cup as a player, assistant coach, and head coach in league history.

Nelson brings vast coaching experience and a championship pedigree to Hershey. The veteran bench boss has experience in the United Hockey League, American Hockey League, and NHL. The native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan spent the previous four seasons prior to joining the Bears as an assistant coach for the NHL's Dallas Stars, and returned to Hershey after skating in one season with the club during his playing career, donning the Chocolate and White during the 1995-96 campaign.

Overall in his accomplished professional career, Nelson has won six championships, including one as a player, one as a player/assistant coach, one as an assistant coach, and three as a head coach. Nelson led Grand Rapids to a Calder Cup Championship in 2017, becoming only the third person in AHL history to win the Calder Cup as a player (1994, Portland), assistant coach (2008, Chicago) and head coach, joining former Bears Bob Woods and Mike Stothers on that exclusive list.

In Nelson's tenure as an AHL head coach, he worked parts of eight seasons with Oklahoma City (2010-15) and Grand Rapids (2015-18), posting a 309-189-16-47 (.607) regular season record. Additionally, Nelson owns a 42-31 (.575) record in 73 career Calder Cup Playoff games. As a head coach, he's helped his team qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs in all eight seasons he's worked in the AHL.

Nelson earned AHL All-Star Classic coaching nods in 2012 and 2017. With Grand Rapids, he helped 24 Griffins move on to the NHL, including current Washington Capitals Nick Jensen and Anthony Mantha.

In the NHL, Nelson was named the interim head coach of Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 15, 2014, guiding the club to a 17-22-7 record in the season's final 46 games. He also has experience as an assistant coach with Atlanta (2008-10), Edmonton (2014), and most recently with Dallas (2018-22). Nelson served as part of Rick Bowness' staff in 2019-20 as the Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Overall, Nelson owns a 475-269-48-47 (.623) record as a professional head coach. He spent three seasons (2003-06) as head coach of the UHL’s Muskegon Fury, winning consecutive Colonial Cups (2004, 2005). He won his first Colonial Cup with Muskegon during the 2001-02 season while serving as a player/assistant coach.

Over his 887-game playing career, Nelson skated in three NHL regular season games, including two for the Capitals, notching his lone NHL goal with Washington on Apr. 12, 1994 versus Winnipeg. He also appeared in four postseason games with the Capitals during the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the Bears in 1995-96, Nelson logged the most productive season of his 12-year playing career, collecting 50 points (10g, 40a) in 70 games.