The former Florida State linebacker, has been building a coaching career at the college level for over ten years. Having coached at several programs and steadily climbed the ranks, Nicholson is now set to make another move in early 2025.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Nicholson is expected to be hired by Missouri as the next linebackers coach. He will be leaving Miami after two seasons to join the Tigers and head coach Eli Drinkwitz in the SEC.
This change likely follows the Hurricanes’ decision to part ways with former defensive coordinator Lance Guidry in favor of Minnesota’s Corey Hetherman. Nicholson took on co-defensive coordinator responsibilities last season in addition to his role as linebackers coach, helping Miami linebackers Francisco Mauigoa and Wesles Bissainthe achieve career-best seasons, with Mauigoa earning second-team All-ACC honors. Nicholson has also secured at least one blue-chip recruit in each of the last three recruiting cycles.
Nicholson played for Florida State from 2005 to 2008, recording 207 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns. He had 19 games with six or more tackles, including three games with 10 or more stops. In 2007, he had a career-high 11 tackles against Colorado. Nicholson started 26 consecutive games to end his career, finishing that season with 99 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Despite going undrafted in 2009, Nicholson briefly played for the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
At just 38 years old, Nicholson has rapidly built a solid coaching resume. He began his career at the high school level before coaching linebackers at Akron (2013), outside linebackers and defensive ends at Louisville (2014), and defensive line at Alcorn State (2015). He then spent four years at Southern Miss, initially coaching the defensive line before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Nicholson later returned to Louisville as linebackers coach before joining Mario Cristobal’s staff at Miami in 2023. His new role at Missouri will be his first in the SEC.
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