Nichols has had a storied career as a player and coach. In fact, he's one of a handful of coaches who have the distinction of winning high school state rides in Maryland as a player (Middletown boys, 1973) and as a head coach (Thomas Johnson girls, 1997, 2001; Urbana girls, 2007). As a three-year varsity player at Middletown, he helped the Knights to a state title (1973), a state runner-­up finish (1974) and a district runner-up finish (1972). He was also part of the inaugural Maryland high school all-state team in 1974.

At Pfeiffer College, he was a four-time all-conference player who helped the program co two district titles and one district runner-up finish. As a high school head coach for 1J boys and girls and Urbana girls, he has nine region titles co go with three state titles