{"id":1268,"date":"2023-04-18T14:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T19:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2025-05-12T13:02:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T18:02:10","slug":"2023-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-klee-nelson-month-of-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2023-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-klee-nelson-month-of-april\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Blue KC Coaches with Character Honoree Klee Nelson – month of April"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue KC and the \u201cC\u201d You in the Major Leagues Foundation<\/a> have announced Kansas City East Lions<\/a> coach Klee Nelson as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for April. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klee Nelson has been coaching at KC East, a homeschool organization in the Kansas City community, since 2015 and never takes a single day of his job for granted. His passion for coaching makes him a key asset in helping student-athletes engage in fun, happy and healthy competition outside of their homeschooled environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I love about coaching is that we are able to provide high school, junior high and elementary school sports environments for the homeschool community in Kansas City,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cThe parents are the responsible party for each student they give us, and we do our very best to show honor, respect, discipline and concern for their development. We are all working toward the same goal of developing young children to be better individuals and better citizens in our society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nelson\u2019s coaching background began more than 15 years ago, and he instantly fell in love with the opportunity to enhance his players\u2019 athletic skills, while also assisting their parents in teaching them responsibility and discipline through individual practices and games. His coaching background spans several sports, including football, baseball and basketball, which means there is no such thing as an offseason when it comes to his ability to educate young athletes in their preferred sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlways remember, the team and its success should not be your focus,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cRespecting and honoring each player is where your reward should be. Enjoy the wins, but enjoy the players and make those relationships your ultimate priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through coaching, Nelson is able to give homeschooled kids an opportunity to play sports that they never thought they could. He says that it is his honor and privilege to be able to serve homeschool and small private-school communities when they feel they do not have any other options. He is providing opportunities that he never had as a child, and he knows how fulfilling it is to the players who he and the rest of the staff coach and mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coach Klee Nelson of KC East throws the ceremonial first pitch at the Royals vs. Rangers game on 4\/18\/23
(Photo by Jason Hanna\/ Kansas City Royals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe truly view this as part of their development and an accent to their total education program,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cGive everything you have to help in your development and to help the team. Challenge yourself to a point beyond what you think you can achieve, and you will never regret the attempt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAside from volunteering his time with the KC East Lions, Klee also works a full-time job while helping raise his four boys,\u201d said Klee\u2019s nominator Kris Nelson. \u201cHis dedication, energy and outstanding character in helping develop young football players in the Kansas City community, while also serving as a deacon at the Church of Christ in Lee\u2019s Summit, makes him a deserving recipient of this award.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI try to be the best I can be, even though in my mind I fall way short of my goals,\u201d said Klee Nelson. \u201cThat said, I feel I have been able to make a lasting impact on most of the players I\u2019ve coached over the years, and I know they have all helped make me a better person along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoach Nelson\u2019s ability and willingness to address the need of athletic opportunities for homeschooled students are inspiring,\u201d said Christina Lively, Blue KC Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. \u201cIt\u2019s vitally important for the growth of our community to allow our children a well-rounded education, both through academics and athletics, and Coach Nelson\u2019s passion and commitment to this endeavor will not go unnoticed. It\u2019s our honor to recognize him as this month\u2019s Blue KC Coaches with Character recipient. Congratulations!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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