Huge NAIA Honors for Coach Chris Nelson, Hart Sisters

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2024-25 NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America Teams along with the 2025 NAIA Player of the Year and the 2025 NAIA Coach of the Year.

Chris Nelson of Bethel University was named the 2025 NAIA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Nelson turned things around for Bethel in just one year after going 13-16 overall and 0-12 in the Mid-South in 2023-24 to 2024-25, where the Wildcats finished the season with an overall record of 27-8 and 5-7 in conference.

Nelson directed his team to its first Mid-South Conference title this season and continued the season where the Wildcats went on to secure the team’s first semifinal appearance at the NAIA Championship.

Coach Nelson’s 402 career victories rank him 13th in wins among active women’s basketball coaches in the NAIA. He has led Bethel to 12 seasons with 20-plus wins.

During Nelson’s tenure as head coach, Bethel has qualified for 15 NAIA national tournaments (2009-11, 2013-2020, 2022 and 2025).

The Lady Wildcats are 173-41 in home games at Crisp Arena since the venue opened in 2012.

This was the 15th year Bethel has appeared in the national tournament and first since 2022.

Bethel has reached the Sweet 16 four times.

Bethel reached the Elite Eight in 2014, 2015 and 2025.

Bethel’s Madison Hart was named First Team All-American, while Micah Hart was named to the second team.

Madison, a junior, averaged almost 17 points a game and led the team in rebounding with seven per outing. She joined the Bethel 1,000-Point Club during the regular season. She became the 19th player in program history to score 1,000 points or more in a career.

Later in the season, she became the 18th player in program history to collect 500 rebounds or more in a Wildcat uniform.

Micah, a freshman, led Bethel in scoring with 18 points per game. She also led the team in steals. Micah was named the MSC Freshman of the Year.

Both players were named first-team All-MSC performers.

All of the All-America selections are made by the NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America Committee and are comprised of first, second and third teams.