BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After eight years as the Hoosiers’ head coach and 10 years with the program, Pete Nelson has announced that he leaving Indiana.

"After 10 years with the IU men's lacrosse program, I have decided it is time to step down and let the team continue to grow and move in the direction that we have been building for the past decade,” Nelson said. “This hasn't been an easy decision, but it makes me happy to know the program is in good hands with the student leadership we have developed, the coaching staff that is in place and the quality of the returning members of the team.”

Nelson posted a 58-34 record as the head coach at Indiana while posting a 33-7 mark in conference play.

He was named the former Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC) Coach of the Year in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

The Hoosiers won conference titles in both 2014 and 2018, and Nelson guided Indiana to its only two appears at the MCLA National Championships sponsored by New Balance in those seasons.

“Over the years, many people have helped make this program successful, on and off the field – far too many to thank, but from the bottom of my heart, this has been an exceptional chapter of my life,” added Nelson. “My passion for coaching started while playing under Rob Graff, Frank Clark, Sam Litman and Rob Horn at Minnesota Duluth. I have tried to emulate everything that made us successful at UMD and build on the blocks of coaching that I learned from them.

“As I have had a chance to reflect the past couple of weeks, I have realized there is nothing more important in coaching than knowing I have had a positive impact on hundreds and hundreds of young men's lives. Not only on the field, but more importantly, off the field. I look forward to watching what the future holds for IU lacrosse."