RALEIGH, NC – Wake Technical Community College has announced David Nicholson as the new women's volleyball coach.
Nicholson brings extensive list of credentials to the Eagles' volleyball program. His most recent collegiate experience was as the head coach at Newberry College (SC) for four seasons (2008-12). He guided the Wolves to a 65-63 overall record. In addition, Newberry earned the highest ever region ranking (7th) and first ever NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2011 under his direction.
"I'm honored to have been selected to lead the Wake Tech volleyball program," said Nicholson. "It is a great opportunity to build upon an already solid program. The volleyball facilities and the academic reputation of Wake Tech is wonderful to attract talented student-athletes to campus."
Prior to Newberry, he was head coach at Union College (KY) from 2005-08. Nicholson was named the 2007 Coach of the Year in both the AAC and NAIA Region XII. The 2007 squad boasted the AAC Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Region XII Player of the Year. The Bulldogs also had three first team and one second team all-AAC selections, with the three all-conference players also earning all-region accolades.
In 2006, the Lady Bulldogs recorded their sixth 20-win season in going 21-17 overall and 12-6 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. Nicholson has had one player earn NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors, two NAIA Setters of the Week nods, three All-Conference First Team selections, three All-Region First Team selections and two conference All-Freshman Team selections.
Nicholson came to Union after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant at Western Carolina (N.C.) University, a NCAA Division I program. During that time, the Catamounts went 28-33 overall.
After spending several years as a stay-at-home father, Nicholson spent one season as the head volleyball at Clayton (NC) High School. He guided the team to their first ever state play-off win in 2018.
Prior to his tenure at Western Carolina, Nicholson compiled an extensive high school coaching career. He first served as the head coach at Crescent High School, in Port Angeles, Wash., from 1992-95, taking over a program which had not seen a victory in over five years. In his third season as the coach there, the team was at the top of its conference.
From 1995-97, Nicholson served as the freshman volleyball coach at Rainier High School, in Rainier, Ore., and then was hired as the head coach at Clatskanie High School, in Clatskanie, Ore., in 1997. While there, he guided his team to a league championship and a sixth-place finish in the state. He followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the state level the following year. During this time, Nicholson additionally coached the Tiger Club Team in Clatskanie.
In July of 2000, Nicholson made the move across the country to Hayesville, N.C., and served as the assistant volleyball coach at Murphy High School. After his stint with Murphy, Nicholson was appointed the athletic director and head volleyball coach of Hiwassee Dam High School, in 2001. He was involved with all aspects of the program in this new position from scheduling to transportation of the teams.
Nicholson has also spent his spare time officiating high school volleyball and basketball games in the western North Carolina area and was selected to officiate the 2002 3A State Championship volleyball match.
A 2005 graduate of Western Carolina, Nicholson received his Master's in Education from Union in December 2006.
CREDIT: Newberry College Athletics