FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Tyler Nelson – the all-time leading scorer in Fairfield University Men's Basketball history – will return to campus as Fairfield's Director of NIL Operations and Player Relations. Since his graduation in 2018, Nelson has played professional basketball in the NBA G League as well as overseas in Germany and Greece.
 
As Director of NIL Operations and Player Relations, Nelson will manage and coordinate Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) operations for Fairfield Athletics with a focus on men's and women's basketball. He will serve as the key liaison between the athletics department, university, third-party partners, and student-athletes to ensure NIL opportunities are maximized while maintaining integrity and NCAA compliance.
 
"As we continue our strategic efforts to position Fairfield Athletics for continued success in the evolving Division I landscape and on the national stage, it was imperative for us to add this role to our organizational structure," said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "We are very excited to welcome Tyler Nelson back home to serve in this capacity and work alongside our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to optimize our ability to recruit and retain high caliber student-athletes. The same qualities that made him a Stags Hall of Famer – a fierce competitive spirit, relentless work ethic, high basketball IQ and a passionate belief in Fairfield – will serve him and us well in this position."
 
A member of the Fairfield Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Nelson scored a record 2,172 points in his standout career from 2014-18. His 17.1 points per game rank eighth all-time on the career charts, and he also holds the Fairfield record for career three-pointers with 315. Nelson scored a program-record 732 points in his senior campaign of 2017-18 to lead the Stags to the MAAC Championship Game. Nelson is a two-time All-MAAC and NABC All-District First Team honoree and a 2018 All-Met Writers First Team selection.
 
Nelson competed for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018 NBA Summer League and was the third overall pick by the Greensboro Swarm in the 2018 NBA G League Draft. Nelson played two seasons stateside with the Swarm and the Texas Legends before heading to Europe, where he spent five years with the Rostock Seawolves. He helped Rostock earn a promotion to the German Bundesliga – the highest professional level in Germany and one of the top leagues in Europe. Nelson finished his playing career with one season in the first-tier Greek Basketball League and a final campaign in Germany with Science City Jena, again helping lead his club to a promotion to the Bundesliga.
 
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to Fairfield to work alongside such an exceptional group of student-athletes and coaches," said Nelson. "Thank you to Paul Schlickmann and Zach Dayton for this incredible opportunity. Go Stags!'
 
The newly established Competitive Excellence Fund will allow Fairfield Athletics to continue to build championship-caliber programs and maintain a mission-driven experience by supporting the recruitment, retention, and development of men's and women's basketball student-athletes through the direct coordination of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.
 
Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Casey
"Tyler knows what it takes to be successful in the MAAC and as a pro. He will be a great mentor to our guys in many aspects, both in his new role managing NIL opportunities as well as sharing his experiences at Fairfield and in the professional ranks. We're looking forward to working alongside him as we continue to build our program."
 
Head Women's Basketball Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis
"I am thrilled for the opportunity to work alongside Tyler as we continue to elevate Fairfield Basketball. As a decorated Stag, he brings not only a deep passion for our University but a strong understanding of how to elevate our student-athlete experience through innovative and strategic NIL opportunities. Tyler is in lockstep with our program's values and goals, and we are excited about the positive impact he will have on Fairfield Basketball!"