Salisbury University

Jim Nestor completed his 25th season as head coach of the Salisbury women’s lacrosse team in 2026. Nestor has guided the Sea Gulls to four national championships, 22 conference championships and 23 NCAA Tournament appearances. He was officially inducted into the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Hall of Fame as a member of the 2024 class.

Honors/Accomplishments as head coach at Salisbury

• Four National Championships (2010, 2013-14, 2021)
• Two Undefeated Seasons (2013, 2021)
• 10 NCAA Finals appearances (2005, '07, '09, '10, '12, '13, '14, '19, '21, '24)
• 13 NCAA Semifinal appearances ('04, '05, '07, '08, '09, '10, '12, '13, '14, '18, '19, '21, '24, '26)
• 26 NCAA Tournament appearances ('03-'19, '21-26)
• 24 Conference Championships ('03-18, '21-26)
• IWLCA Hall of Fame Class of 2024
• 18 Conference Coach of the Year awards
• Five-time IWLCA National Coach of the Year
• 17-time IWLCA Chesapeake Region Coach of the Year
• 2018, 2022 ECAC Division III Coach of the Year
• Alexis Strobel – National Player of the Year in 2021
• Natalie Held - National Defender of the Year in 2024
• 13 National Position Players of the Year
• Third all-time winningest NCAA women's lacrosse coach across all divisions
• Second all-time winningest NCAA Division III women's lacrosse coach
• Third-best winning percentage among active coaches in Division III
• 101-game conference regular-season winning streak (all-time Division III record)
• 45-game home regular-season winning streak (3/19/03-03/24/09)
• 48-game home winning streak (2/25/12-4/10/15) (Second longest in Division III history)
• 49-game regular-season winning streak (4/13/11- 4/16/14)

Coaching Career Prior to Salisbury

Nestor compiled a 73-20-1 record in six seasons with the Gannon women's lacrosse program. He guided the team to a winning season every year during the program's six-year history. Gannon won three straight ECAC championships from 1998-2000 and was named the co-national champion by the IWLCA following the 2000 season. Nestor was named the IWLCA's Division II Coach of the Year in 1996 and was recognized as the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 2000 by CollegeLacrosseUSA.com. Gannon had 21 players recognized as IWLCA All-Americans during Nestor's tenure with the program. His coaching resume also includes stints at Frostburg State University (1991-92), Colby-Sawyer College (1992-94) and Lafayette College (1994). Nestor was the head coach at Colby-Sawyer for two seasons where his teams went 6-19.

Personal

Originally from Laurel, Md., Nestor received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Salisbury in 1990. He was a four-year letterman on the Sea Gull lacrosse and wrestling teams during his collegiate career. Nestor earned his master's degree in health and physical education at Frostburg State in 1992. His wife, Linda, is also a Salisbury graduate and was a four-year letter winner on the women's lacrosse team.

Coach Nestor's Record at SU