By Jake Schrantz, Panhandle Post
ALLIANCE, Neb. - A warm sunny breeze. The pop of the starting pistol. Student athletes soaring through the sky as they set personal bests in pole vault. These are all normal occurrences in a track and field meet. However, one thing was different about this particular invitational in Alliance.
Long-time track and field coach, Steve “Nellie” Nelson, was honored during the newly named “Steve ‘Nellie’ Nelson Track and Unified Track Invite” on Monday April 20, 2026 at Bulldog Stadium in Alliance, Nebraska. This yearly event was rebranded in 2026 to honor the over 50 years of track and field coaching from the Alliance legend.
The veteran coach, turned volunteer assistant, said he couldn’t believe it when he first found out the annual event would be renamed in his honor.
“Last year we had the celebration of the 50th anniversary of our 1975 boys winning the state championship. We did a ceremonial walk around the track with the trophy, and of course I was last because I was the slowest,” Nellie said with a chuckle.
“We got about right [to the starting line] again, and all of a sudden the announcer said ‘This will be the last Alliance Invitational track meet.’ I thought ‘What the heck is he talking about?’”
Little did Nelson know, this was a planned bait and switch moment over the loud speaker meant to surprise the much beloved former head coach.
Nelson said the loud speaker rang out with the message honoring him.
“It said ‘from now on it will be known as the ‘Steve “Nellie” Nelson Track and Unified Track Invitational.’ I still haven’t wrapped my face around it,” said Nellie.
With much of his coaching career being spent raising the standard of Alliance High School’s pole vault performance, it was fitting to see him still giving pointers to the new age student athletes. Brooke Bailey, a junior from Alliance High School, vaulted over the top of the 8 foot pole less than two months into trying the event on varsity. Freshman Reese Armstrong stood alone after her 9-foot vault set a personal best. The constant between the two was Nellie’s encouraging voice cheering the girls on as they achieved these feats.
Alliance High School Activities Director, Brent Bauer, spoke about the importance of this year’s event.
“Alliance, historically, has so much pride in how they do track and field. This meet is a really big deal,” said Bauer as he looked over the crowded Bulldog Stadium field.
Nellie’s reputation of excellence as a coach goes beyond just the Alliance track and field program, according to Bauer.
“He is just a track legend — not just in western Nebraska, but throughout the state,” said Bauer about Nelson’s presence in the Cornhusker state.
It was clear to anyone who saw the interactions Nelson had with those around him that the love he has for the kids he has coached is returned to him. Whether it was signed ‘thank you’ cards, a bag of mini doughnuts, or even just small conversations while sharing a laugh over old stories, Nelson’s generational connection with this sport, and the Alliance community as a whole, is as strong as ever.