Fran joined the Gwynedd Mercy University women’s soccer team as a goalkeeper coach prior to the 2023 season. In addition to his role as goalkeeper coach, he also fulfills a similar position – goalkeeper director – for the Lower Merion Soccer Club.
In 2023, Coach Nelms helped guide the Griffins to a their best overall (7-5-6) and conference (1-1-4) single-season records. The achievement garnered the Red and Gold the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Coaching Staff of the Year award and earned them the #6 seed in the league’s championship tournament. Under his direction, the Gwynedd Mercy University goalkeepers ranked first in the conference for saves (155) and third in the conference for both goals allowed (3rd, 29) and goals-against average (3rd, 1.61 GAA).
Over the past 15-plus years, Coach Nelms has also functioned as an individual goalkeeper trainer for collegiate-bound athletes. Growing up in Northeast Philadelphia, he was an All-Catholic First Team goalkeeper at Archbishop Ryan High School before playing collegiately at Temple University.
