About Duke Nelson
Lived 1907 – 1989 (aged 82). Duke Nelson was an American head coach and american football coach.
Walter John "Duke" Nelson (April 26, 1907 – October 22, 1989) was an American college athletics coach and administrator. He was the head American football coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 1939 to 1941 and at Middlebury College from 1946 to 1968 compiling a career college football coaching record of 98–81–12. At Middlebury, he teams won back-to-back Vermont State Conference championships in 1948 and 1949. Nelson graduated from Middlebury in 1932.
Head coaching record Football
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Important facts
People in Duke Nelson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Duke Nelson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Duke Nelson?
American football coach (1907–1989)
When was Duke Nelson born?
Duke Nelson was born on 26 April 1907 in Boston.
When did Duke Nelson die?
Duke Nelson died on 22 October 1989 in Middlebury, Vermont.
What was Duke Nelson's occupation?
Duke Nelson was a head coach and american football coach.
What nationality was Duke Nelson?
Duke Nelson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Duke Nelson. https://biography.guide/duke-nelson/
MLA: "Duke Nelson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/duke-nelson/.
Chicago: "Duke Nelson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/duke-nelson/.
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