Josh Nelson was named director of performance science on Feb. 22, 2024.

Nelson joins the Falcons after serving as an assistant athletic director at Penn State from 2019-24. Nelson started at Penn State as an assistant athletic director for applied health and performance science before being promoted to assistant athletic director of high performance for the Nittany Lions football team.

Prior to Penn State, Nelson spent six years (2013-19) at Baylor University where he served in a variety of roles ranging from assistant director of applied performance and operations, athletic performance coach and most recently director of applied performance.

Nelson began his career at his alma mater Emory and Henry College (Va.) where he served as an assistant football coach/coordinator of strength and conditioning and physical education instructor from 2012-13.

Nelson is a 2009 Emory & Henry College graduate where he earned his undergraduate degree in health and physical education and master's degree in professional studies. As an undergraduate, Nelson was a four-year letter winner on the baseball team as an infielder and a student assistant coach for the football staff. He completed his doctorate degree in coaching and teaching studies from West Virginia University. From 2009 to 2012, he was a graduate teaching assistant and instructor in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Science at WVU.

Additionally, during his time at WVU, Nelson was a contracted strength and conditioning coach at several high schools in the Morgantown area, was appointed a representative on the National Strength and Conditioning Association – Virginia board of representatives and was the faculty representative for the Athletic Coaching Education club at WVU.