Bob Nichols (basketball)

Bob Nichols
Nichols from the 1967 Blockhouse
Biographical details
Born(1930-07-10)July 10, 1930
Grand Haven, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2013(2013-03-30) (aged 82)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1950–1953Toledo
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1956–1963Central Catholic HS
1963–1964Bowling Green (assistant)
1964–1965Toledo (assistant)
1965–1987Toledo
1989–1994Eckerd (women’s)
Head coaching record
Overall377–211 (.641) (men's)
34–96 (.262) (women's)
111–39 (.740) (high school)
Tournaments1–3 (NCAA)
1–1 (NIT)
1–1 (CCAT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 MAC regular season (1967, 1972, 1979–1981)
MAC tournament (1980)
Awards
3× MAC Coach of the Year (1974, 1979, 1980)

Robert J. Nichols (July 10, 1930 – March 30, 2013) was an American college basketball coach. He was known for his tenure as the head men’s coach for the University of Toledo.

Nichols was born in Grand Haven, Michigan, and raised in Jackson, Michigan. He played college basketball for Toledo from 1950 to 1953. He was hired as head coach for Central Catholic High School in Toledo in 1956, and in seven seasons as head coach compiled a record of 111–39. He then entered the college coaching ranks, first as an assistant at Bowling Green, and then was hired as an assistant coach at his alma mater in 1964.[1] Nichols was promoted to head coach after head coach Ed Melvin resigned following the 1964–65 season.[2]

He coached Toledo for 22 seasons, compiling a record of 377 and 211. His teams won five Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships and the 1980 MAC tournament title. Nichols compiled twenty consecutive winning seasons, but resigned in 1987 after consecutive losing seasons.[3]

Nichols returned to coaching in 1989, where he first accepted the head coach position at Lake–Sumter Community College, but then reversed course and accepted the head women’s job at Eckerd College.[4] Nichols coached at Eckerd for five seasons, resigning to take care of his wife after she was in a serious car accident.[5]

Nichols died in Toledo on March 30, 2013, at age 82.[6]

Head coaching record

Men's

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Toledo Rockets (Mid-American Conference) (1965–1987)
1965–66 Toledo 13–11 8–4 2nd
1966–67 Toledo 23–2 11–1 1st NCAA University Division First Round
1967–68 Toledo 16–8 8–4 3rd
1968–69 Toledo 13–11 5–7 5th
1969–70 Toledo 15–9 5–5 4th
1970–71 Toledo 13–11 4–6 T–4th
1971–72 Toledo 18–7 7–3 T–1st
1972–73 Toledo 15–11 7–5 T–2nd
1973–74 Toledo 19–9 8–4 2nd CCAT Semifinals
1974–75 Toledo 17–9 9–5 T–2nd
1975–76 Toledo 18–7 13–3 3rd
1976–77 Toledo 21–6 12–4 3rd
1977–78 Toledo 21–6 11–5 T–2nd
1978–79 Toledo 22–8 13–3 T–1st NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1979–80 Toledo 23–6 14–2 1st NCAA Division I First Round
1980–81 Toledo 21–10 10–6 T–1st NIT Second Round
1981–82 Toledo 15–11 7–9 8th
1982–83 Toledo 17–12 10–8 T–3rd
1983–84 Toledo 18–11 11–7 T–3rd
1984–85 Toledo 16–12 11–7 T–3rd
1985–86 Toledo 12–17 8–10 5th
1986–87 Toledo 11–17 4–12 T–8th
Toledo: 377–211 (.641) 196–120 (.620)
Total: 377–211 (.641)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Women's

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Eckerd Tritons (Sunshine State Conference) (1989–1994)
1989–90 Eckerd 9–15 4–8 4th
1990–91 Eckerd 3–24 0–12 7th
1991–92 Eckerd 7–20 4–8 4th
1992–93 Eckerd 7–19 4–8 5th
1993–94 Eckerd 8–18 5–9 5th
Eckerd: 34–96 (.262) 17–45 (.274)
Total: 34–96 (.262)

References

  1. ^ Autullo, Ryan (April 4, 2013). "Rockets' coach left legacy beyond court". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "Bob Nichols new coach at Toledo". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. February 10, 1965. p. 31. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Bob Nichols, head basketball coach at the University of Toledo for the past 22 years, resigned Monday following his second consecutive losing season". UPI.com. March 2, 1987. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Coaching Hunt again takes LSCC forefront". The Orlando Sentinel. July 9, 1989. p. 36. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Eckerd College's Nichols steps down". The Tampa Tribune. March 18, 1994. p. 74. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bob Nichols dies at 82". ESPN.com. March 30, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
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