Not Just a Program, But a Community: Nichols, Falcons Strive for Success Both On & Off the Pitch
by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications
7/14/2026
The Bowling Green State University men's soccer program has been marked by incredible stability over its first six-plus decades. Eric Nichols is just the fifth head coach in the history of the storied program, which enters its 62nd season in the 2026-27 academic year. Nichols has been at the helm longer than any of the previous four, as he enters his 18th season as BG head coach.
Nichols and his staff, as well as the team's student-athletes, have developed a special relationship with the rest of the University, the BGSU men's soccer alumni and the Bowling Green community. What does it mean to Nichols to have such a tremendous group of alums who are invested in the program?
“It means so much," said Nichols. “It brings more purpose to what we do. We obviously love to play soccer, we love to compete, but knowing that there’s a group of people who have done this before us and who are invested in our success, it brings so much more meaning to everything we do.”
Nichols began his head-coaching tenure at BGSU in 2009, but he first learned of the Falcon program nearly two decades before, when he was a student-athlete at Ohio State.
“I knew this was a first-class program [when he took over as head coach],” said Nichols. "When I got to Ohio State, I didn’t know much about Bowling Green. I remember on our way up here to play, some of the guys from Ohio were almost intimidated. I was like, ‘What? Why are we intimidated by Bowling Green?’ They went on to tell me the kind of players Bowling Green had, and sure enough … it was an elite program for so many years, and those alums have done a great job of staying engaged and helping us understand what it was that made them elite.
"We try to lean into those same core values today. Perhaps that’s something we got away from a little bit last year, and we’re gonna lean back into it this year.”
“Those alums have done a great job of staying engaged and helping us understand what it was that made them elite.”-- Eric Nichols
As Nichols mentioned, the program did not experience the results on the field that he and his team had hoped for in 2025. After advancing to the championship match of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in 2024, the team did not qualify for the league tourney in '25. The players and staff are working toward a return to the success of the previous years in 2026.
“We’re eager for the season, for sure," said the head coach. "Last year was disappointing, and when you have seasons like that it makes you take a good look in the mirror, do some self-evaluation and figure out where we want to go. What we have now is a very clear picture of who we want to be and what we need to do to get there.
"There’s a lot of excitement, and a big opportunity for some returning guys. We have a group of returners with a chance to step their game forward and do some leading. We have an exciting group of young guys coming in, and there’s room for them to step in and play as well. One thing’s for sure – we’re very clear about what it’s going to take, and now it’s just about getting to work.”
“Last year was disappointing, and when you have seasons like that it makes you take a good look in the mirror, do some self-evaluation and figure out where we want to go. What we have now is a very clear picture of who we want to be and what we need to do to get there.”--Eric Nichols
What does Nichols look for in a potential Bowling Green men's soccer recruit?
“It starts and ends with character, and people we want to be around,” he said. "We spend a lot of time with these guys. Obviously, they’ve got to be great athletes, they’ve got to be great competitors, but there’s got to be a large amount of humility as well. They’ve got to be willing to get with the community, put themselves out there and really connect. One of the big parts of our mission here is playing for ourselves, but also for our alums, for our community and for our student body.”
Since his arrival in Northwest Ohio, Nichols has tirelessly worked at improving not just the team, but the overall game-day experience. A match day at Cochrane Stadium is a community event, with the crowd including not just the players' families and friends, but other BGSU students, members of the community and countless youngsters who have gotten to know the student-athletes through the many camps and clinics run by the Falcons. When the clock hits zero at the end of the second half, throngs of kids rush the field to get autographs and talk to their favorite Falcons.
“It is special,” said Nichols. "It really is. We work hard to build that connection with our community, and they show up. They show up and create one of the best environments around. That’s why we have such an obligation, an opportunity but also an obligation, to play in front of them and compete a certain way.
“Like I said, we’re disappointed with some of the performances we put out on the field last year in front of that great crowd, and that’s what we’re working for now, to make sure they get what they deserve. We can’t guarantee we’re going to win every game, but we guarantee we’re going to compete a certain way. Win or lose, we're going to compete the right way, and if we do lose, we're going to go down fighting.”
Falcons fans will get their first chance to see the 2026 team on Friday, Aug. 7, when Detroit Mercy comes to Cochrane Stadium for a 5 p.m. scrimmage. The regular season begins on Thursday, Aug. 20, when BGSU hosts Wright State in a 7 p.m. start.
Admission is free to all BGSU soccer matches again in 2026.
