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NBA Legend Don Nelson Earns Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education
By Catherine Groux
Posted May 10, 2012 01:04 PM
NBA legend Don Nelson will earn a bachelor's degree this weekend.After playing in the NBA for 14 seasons and acting as an NBA head coach for 31 seasons, it seems there is not much more room for achievements on Don Nelson's resume. However, the 71-year-old will soon be able to say that aside from being a legendary basketball player and coach, he is also a college graduate.
This weekend, Nelson will earn a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Iowa, according to USA Today. Nelson attended the school decades ago, but left in 1962 as an All-American although he was only a few credits shy of graduating.
When Nelson retired from coaching in 2010, he turned to Shaquille O'Neal for inspiration. Nelson coached O'Neal at the FIBA World Championship in Ontario in 1994, and has since watched him earn a bachelor's degree in business, a Master of Business Administration and most recently, a doctorate degree, The Washington Post reports.
During this weekend's graduation ceremony, Nelson will celebrate his accomplishment with more than 40 family members and friends.
"It means a lot to me personally," Nelson told USA Today. "When I went to college, I was the first male in my family with a chance to go. One thing that was important to me was to get a degree. I was in the pros for so long that I had to postpone it until now. But it was a goal of mine, and I've achieved it."
