MBU Athletics

Career Highlights

• NAIA's Winningest Active Coach by Winning %
• 2021 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Champions
• 2021 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Coach of the Year
• 2020 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Champions
• 2020 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Coach of the Year
• 10 NAIA National Tournament Appearances
• Under Nichols' guidance, the Spartans have made it to the NAIA Championship Quarterfinals six times in the past 10 seasons
• Helped lead Spartans to program's first National Championship Final appearance in 2015
• Coached 28 NAIA All-Americans (11 - First Team, 3 - Second Team, 8 - Third Team, 6 - Honorable Mention)
• Coached 2006 NAIA Player of the Year – Ana Mercado, 2014 & 2015 NAIA Libero of the Year – Haley Pouliezos, 2020 NAIA National Championship MVP – Giovanna Tapigliani, 2021 NAIA Defender of the Year – Ariana Macies, and 2021 NAIA Setter of the Year & NAIA National Championship MVP – Manuela Vargas
• Seven 30-Win Seasons
• Overall Record as Head Coach: 350-67 (.839%)
• AMC Record as Head Coach: 109-11 (.901%)

Bio

• Named head women's volleyball coach in 2013 after six seasons as head assistant coach and two as associate head coach under John Yehling
• Reputable in the club volleyball scene where he helped start Kaepa St. Charles in 2003, served as club director and coach for Team Saint Louis VBC from 2004-09 and remains very involved with High Performance Volleyball Club as a coach and women's development director
• Coached varsity boys and girls volleyball at Francis Howell High School from 2002-05 and helped the girls' team to its first conference and district titles since 1981 ; was instrumental in helping the boys team to three straight Final Four appearances
• Alum of Missouri Baptist University ; played three years and helped Spartan Men's Volleyball earn second place at the NAIA Invitational in 2003
• Graduate of Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, Mo. where he was a four-year varsity setter from 1997-2000 and was a member of the 2000 state championship team
• Married to his high school sweetheart Jayma
• Has three daughters: Addisyn, Emersyn, and Fayth