Omar Nelson to take on recruiting role with Navy football

Omar Nelson will move from the broadcast booth to a recruiting role with the Navy football program, The Capital has learned.

Head coach Ken Niumatalolo confirmed on Friday that Nelson has been hired as an assistant recruiting coordinator, but declined further comment pending a formal announcement.

Contacted by The Capital on Saturday morning, Nelson acknowledged he had accepted the position and said "I'm happy to be coming aboard." Nelson also elected not to elaborate since the athletic department has not officially released the information.

Navy had a shakeup within its recruiting department when Director of Player Personnel Sean Magee left to take the same position at Michigan. Preston Pehrson has been promoted from assistant recruiting coordinator into Magee's former position, Niumatalolo confirmed.

Nelson just completed his 15th year as a member of the Navy Radio Network, serving as color analyst for football broadcasts. The Silver Spring native is a 1997 graduate of the Naval Academy, where he was a standout football player.

Nelson was a three-year starter at fullback for Navy during the initial triple-option era under head coach Charlie Weatherbie and offensive coordinator Paul Johnson. He was a key cog on offense for the 1996 squad, which went 9-3 and defeated California in the Aloha Bowl.

Upon graduation, Nelson served as a surface warfare officer aboard the USS Denver for three years. In January, 2000, the John F. Kennedy High product was deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Southern Watch. He also served aboard the USS Sides for three years and was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After returning to the academy in June, 2002 as a teacher in the Seamanship and Navigation Department, Nelson was honorably discharged in 2004 and has worked as a sales representative for Pfizer ever since.

Nelson will give up his spot in the Navy broadcast booth with Joe Miller a leading candidate to take over as color commentator. Miller, a Southern High graduate, just completed his fourth season as sideline reporter for Navy football.