Nelson University

Seventh Season
2024-25 record: 24-9
Career Record: 308-141 (Nelson Record: 107-42)
NAIA National Tournament Round of 32 (2024-25)
Sooner Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion (2024-25)
NAIA National Tournament Round of 32 (2022-23)
NAIA National Tournament Round of 16 (2021-22)
NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Champions (2021-22)
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (2021-22)
NAIA National Tournament Fab Four (2020-21)
NAIA National Tournament Round of 8 (2020-21)
NAIA National Tournament Round of 16 (2020-20)
NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Champions (2020-21)
Sooner Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions (2020-21)
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (2019-20)
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (2017-18)
Five NAIA All-Americans – Joshua Kashila (x2), Nykolas Mason (x2), Joel Polius, Cortland Blake, CJ Hall
 
Coach Deal has been at the helm of the Nelson Men’s Basketball program since 2017. During his time with SAGU he has amassed a record of 128-53, and during the 2020-21 season he took Nelson to the NAIA National Tournament Fab Four for the second time in program history. Coach Deal has coached five NAIA All-Americans while at Nelson, which include Joshua Kashila, Nykolas Mason, Cortland Blake, CJ Hall and Joel Polius. In 2019-20, he led the Lions to a SAC Tournament title, and in 2020-21 SAGU was crowned the SAC regular season champions. Before coming to Nelson, Coach Deal spent seven years as the head coach of York College where he led his team to the NAIA Division II tournament three times. In 2016, the Panthers made it to the Round of Eight in the National Tournament. Upon taking over York College in 2010, the Panthers had only one winning season in school history. Coach Deal led York to seven consecutive winning seasons. Before York College, Deal coached at Bethesda Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas. Over his four years at Bethesda, he had a 97-28 record. In 2007, he won the TAPPS 3A State Championship and was named the State Coach of the Year. Coach Deal currently has a collegiate record of 265-141.