.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Eric Nichols Named Head Men's Soccer Coach at BGSU
February 17, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Feb. 17, 2009
Coach Nichols Press Conference Audio
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - Bowling Green State University Assistant Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Greg Christopher has announced the hiring of Eric Nichols as head men's soccer coach. Christopher made the announcement Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 17).
Complete Release in PDF Format
"We are pleased to welcome Eric to the Falcon family," said Christopher. "Eric stood out among an excellent group of candidates. His experience as a head coach, coupled with his recruiting knowledge of Ohio and the Midwest, made him the ideal candidate to guide our men's soccer program."
Nichols comes to Bowling Green after spending the 2008 season as assistant coach at Davidson College. He also served as recruiting coordinator under head coach Matt Spear.
"I am excited to join the BGSU family," said Nichols. "Having spent most of my life in Ohio, I am aware of the strong tradition at Bowling Green, and of the many great players and coaches who have performed at Cochrane Field over the years. I am looking forward to returning the program to prominence."
Prior to his stint at Davidson, Nichols was the head men's soccer coach at Ohio Dominican University for four seasons (2004-07). Under his guidance, the Panthers recorded a 59-22-1 (.728) overall mark, including a final ranking of fourth in 2007. That team advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament.
Nichols guided his final ODU team to a 19-3-0 overall record and was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year and Ohio Coach of the Year in 2007. He was named the American Mideast Conference South Division Coach of the Year in three of his four seasons with the Panthers.
Prior to heading to ODU, Nichols served as an assistant coach at Ohio Wesleyan University under Jay Martin. During Nichols' four years there, the Battling Bishops compiled a mark of 74-14-3, won four conference championships and advanced to a pair of NCAA Regional Championships and one Final Four.
Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Nichols was the head coach of the Columbus Crew's U18 U.S. Soccer Academy team for the 2007-08 season, and also has experience coaching state and region squads in the Olympic Development Program (ODP). He also has a NSCAA Premier Diploma and a U.S. Soccer "A" License.
Nichols played collegiately at Ohio State, and played five years of professional soccer for the Columbus Xoggz and Indiana Blast of the USISL and the Columbus Invaders of the NPSL.
He becomes only the fifth head coach in the storied history of the BGSU men's soccer program, which enters its 45th season in 2009. He joins Mickey Cochrane (1965-77), the late Gary Palmisano (1978-92, 1994), Mel Mahler (1993, 1995-2003) and Fred Thompson (2004-08) on that list.
"Bowling Green has a rich tradition in men's soccer," Christopher said. "Hiring the right leader to help this program compete again for championships is important for the future of BGSU Athletics."
Nichols earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from OSU in 2000. He has taken graduate courses at BGSU.
Nichols and his wife, Marianne, have two children, Kalen (8) and Jordan (5).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ERIC NICHOLS
JOHN BLUEM, Ohio State Head Men's Soccer Coach
(2007 National Runners-Up)
"I have known Eric for several years and I'm excited and happy for him. I think Bowling Green has made an excellent choice and I wish them and Eric the best of luck."
JAY VIDOVICH, Wake Forest Head Men's Soccer Coach
(2007 National Champions - 2007 and 2008 NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year)
"Eric is a great find for Bowling Green. He's a very competitive person by nature and he brings that to all of his teams. He did a great job at Ohio Dominican and I know he'll have success at Bowling Green."
JAY MARTIN, Ohio Wesleyan Head Men's Soccer Coach
(Fastest coach to 500 wins in NCAA men's soccer history)
"Bowling Green hired a gem. Eric is a great recruiter, a great coach and a winner. The program is in good hands. He will turn it around."
ANDREW ARTHURS, Columbus Crew V.P. Soccer Business Devel./Executive Director Crew Juniors
(Four-year letterwinner and two-time captain at BGSU)
"From leading the Crew Soccer Academy 18s last year, I know firsthand that Eric is an excellent coach and recruiter with outstanding connections throughout Ohio and the Midwest. More important, having played at Bowling Green, I know Eric will be a great role model for the players and ambassador for the school as he works to build upon the tradition of BG Soccer."
BUD LEWIS, Wilmington College Head Men's Soccer Coach
(BGSU All-American in 1974)
"I am very pleased and excited with the Athletic Department's decision to name Eric Nichols as the new Men's Soccer Coach at BGSU. Eric is a great fit for Bowling Green Men's Soccer. He's an excellent coach, a great recruiter and he is very well networked in Ohio and the Great Lakes region. But most importantly, Eric fully embraces and embodies the values, character and integrity necessary to transform the BGSU Men's Soccer program to its former winning tradition and national respect.
"Eric is a very talented young man and has demonstrated the ability to transform a collegiate soccer program, which is much more than just wins and losses. He understands the importance of player management and program development. I am confident that he will be welcomed by the current players and will be able to get the program competing at a very high level in the next few years.
"As an alum of BGSU Men's Soccer, I encourage fellow soccer alumni to welcome with enthusiastic support, Eric and his family to Bowling Green State University. I look forward to Eric's leadership of the program and his returning the program to national prominence."
