Joe "half" Nelson grew up playing volleyball in the backyard with his older brother Mike. He played at the University of Utah for three years and has coached indoor throughout college. With the University of Utah men's club team, Nelson started as a freshman and helped the team to take third in the National Championships. Nelson was awarded second team All-American in 2007.

Nelson has since turned his focus toward outdoor volleyball in the sand. In 2011 he and Carl Tams qualified to go to the National Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships. There, he and Tams took fourth place in the nation. In 2012, Nelson and Troy Ketterling traveled to Aspen, Colo. to place 13th. 

In 2013, Nelson's sights have been set on the AVP qualifier coming to SLC in August, where he hopes to qualify to play against his idol, Utah native Jake Gibb.

Nelson has recently been added to the Wasatch Beach Volleyball board as a social media representative/photographer. Wasatch Beach will be the host of the AVP qualifier in August 2013. You can find out more at www.wasatchbeachvolleyball.com

Nelson married Carlie Glauser in August of 2011. They currently live in Midvale, Utah.