Paul Nelson
Head Coach
(630) 829-6144
pnelson@ben.edu

Paul Nelson became the head coach of Benedictine’s women’s basketball program in 2004. The Eagles have a enjoyed a consistent reputation of success under his guidance.

Within two years of taking over as head coach, Nelson had the Eagles back at the .500 plateau. In his third season – in 2006-07 – Nelson took his team to a place no other Benedictine women’s basketball team had ever been: a 20-victory season.Along the way, Nelson’s players have enjoyed accolades and honors at both the league and national levels, as well.

Nelson is certainly no stranger to the Benedictine community, as he has put in more than a decade at the school as a player and coach. For eight seasons, Nelson served as the top assistant on the men’s basketball staff. His role in advanced scouting and recruiting helped lift the Eagles to a new level. In his eight seasons, Benedictine posted eight straight winning campaigns and averaged 17.3 wins per season. The program also won four Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) regular-season titles and an NIIC Tournament crown and made four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in his tenure. Nelson’s expertise in conditioning and weight training greatly aided the men’s basketball program in his eight years on the bench, and it has helped the women’s team as well.

Nelson started his coaching career as the boys’ freshman coach at Streamwood (Ill.) High School during the 1993-94 season before moving on to his first collegiate position as an assistant on the Elmhurst College men’s staff. In two seasons at Elmhurst (1994-96), he helped the Bluejays to one of their best seasons ever in terms of wins and also served as the junior varsity head coach.

A graduate of Driscoll Catholic (Ill.) High School, Nelson played two seasons at Harper Community College before moving on to Benedictine. As an Eagle, he played two seasons under legendary coach Tony LaScala, where he was a part of two NIIC regular-season title squads.

He graduated from Benedictine with a degree in psychology in 1993, and also earned his secondary education certificate from Elmhurst in 1995.
Nelson and his wife Kathleen have three children: son Colin, daughter Morgan and daughter Hayley. The family resides in South Elgin, Ill.

Amanda Burditt
Assistant Coach

Amanda Burditt joined the Benedictine University coaching staff in 2007, after an outstanding four-year career with the Eagles.

As a player for the Eagles, Burditt earned three all-conference awards and still ranks third on the Eagles’ career assists list with 288 “helps.” She also was one of the team’s top defensive players annually finishing among the leaders in steals.For her 101-game career, Burditt amassed 195 steals (1.9 s.p.g.), 370 rebounds (3.7 r.p.g.) and 914 points (9.0 p.p.g.).

Burditt graduated in May of 2007 with bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Benedictine. She is currently working on her Master’s and plans on pursuing a career as a physical therapist.

Burditt came to the Eagles’ program from Kenosha, Wisconsin. She was a 2003 graduate of Shoreline Lutheran High School and is the daughter of Pete and Judy Burditt. She was also a Dean’s List student and a top scholar student-athlete at Benedictine.

Dana Sullivan
Assistant Coach

Dana Sullivan joined the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2007, after completing a four-year career with Benedictine from 2003-2007.
During her time in the Eagles’ colors, Sullivan earned the respect of opponents for her athleticism and deft three-point shooting ability. As a senior, Sullivan led the Northern Athletics Conference in three point field goals made per game (2.11).

In her Benedictine career, Sullivan accumulated 734 points (7.8 p.p.g.) and 184 rebounds (2.0 r.p.g.). She drilled a total of 135 three-point baskets (1.4 p.g.) during her 94-game career.

Sullivan was also involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) while she was in school. She was another outstanding student-athlete, earning recognition on the Dean’s List at Benedictine.

Sullivan is finishing up her degree work in elmentary education, currently doing her student teaching. She is the daughter of Eugene and Patricia Sullivan.