Celebrating 30 years of Nelson Football: Coach John Allen
Thirty years ago, Nelson University launched a football program with little more than a vision, a calling, and a deep trust in God. As Nelson approaches its 100th year, the story of Nelson Football stands as a testament to faith and perseverance.
“As I look back at the football program at Nelson now, from its beginning… we weren’t ready. Didn’t have the facilities. Didn’t have the personnel. But God. Now we can see what God has done over the last 30 years: the people impacted and how it has impacted the school. This is God’s program. It’s never been anything different,” Coach John Allen said.
Today, Coach Allen lives near Orange Beach, Alabama, but his fingerprints are all over Waxahachie, TX. When he answered the call to become Nelson’s first football coach, he stepped into a role that was far bigger than drawing up plays and recruiting athletes. He was asked to help build a program from the ground up, literally.
There was no established team. No roster. Limited resources. There wasn’t even a football field.
Coach Allen remembers moving dirt behind the Sheaffer Center, leveling the ground and helping create the foundation of what would eventually become Nelson’s athletic complex. What began as a patch of land grew into a program that would welcome hundreds of student‑athletes.
Standing on that field today, Coach Allen reflected on the countless hours, sacrifices, and prayers that helped bring the vision to life. The facilities have changed. The program has grown. But the foundation remains the same.
For Coach Allen, Nelson Football has never been defined by wins and losses alone. From the beginning, it was about putting the person before the player and character before the scoreboard. The purpose has always been to develop young men who will make a difference long after they retire from the football field.
Three decades later, that vision continues to shape Nelson Football. What began with faith and a huge step of obedience has become a lasting legacy, impacting student-athletes, coaches, and Nelson fans alike.
As Nelson celebrates 30 years of football and looks ahead to its 100th year as a school, Coach Allen’s message remains clear: this is God’s program, and the story He is writing is still unfolding.
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