Lewis Nelson was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and spent summers growing up visiting family in Southern California since his parents are both from the Compton area. The son of a former NBA basketball player and a teacher, growing up, Lewis excelled in the classroom and on the court. Lewis spent one year at LA Harbor College, where he played and started on the basketball team. He then transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills University where he played and started three years of basketball and was named captain in his senior season. Nelson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a teaching option from CSUDH.

Nelson coached at high schools in South LA for 15 years. Lewis won a LA City CIF Div. 4 Championship as head coach at Animo South LA high for boys’ basketball in 2012. He also won a LA City CIF Div. 5 Championship at Middle College High in 2015 in boys’ basketball and was named LA City CIF Div. 5 Coach of the Year as well. Lewis was an assistant coach at Santa Monica College and head of recruiting while an assistant LA Harbor College before coming to Compton College.