Bacone College Athletic Director Alan Foster announced that current men’s basketball assistant Josh Nichols has been named the head women’s basketball coach.
“Josh (Nichols) has served with me the last four seasons and did an outstanding job,” Foster added. “As much as I hate to lose him as an assistant I’m also excited for him to be a head coach and run his own program. I know he’ll do a good job, he’s been a tremendous asset and I know he’s going to do a lot of good things with the women’s basketball program.”
“I’ve very grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role,” Nichols said. “I want to thank Coach (Alan) Foster and our associate athletic director John Pickens for allowing me to pursue this. Bacone has become home to my family and we’re excited for the future.”
The first-year head coach anticipates a learning curve transitioning from coaching men’s basketball to women but is prepared for the task.
“Knowing what our girls can and can’t do already is going to help,” Nichols added. “If I walked into the gym for the first time in August that’s going to put us behind. Knowing what we need recruiting wise and what I want to do from an X’s & O’s standpoint gives me a bit of advantage. It’ll be a challenge but it’s going to be worth it in the end.”
“It’s exciting but there will be learning curve. Its ultimately still basketball; the psychology and the X’s & O’s will be different but in the end its still basketball.”
During the transitional period, Nichols will still help with men’s basketball recruiting until a new assistant is hired.
“There’s no doubt about it, he’s a very good recruiter but those skills are also needed on the women’s side as well, Foster added. “I feel like this is the best thing for our institution, maybe it’s not the best thing for the men’s basketball program but as the athletic director I have to look at the whole picture.”
Nichols recently wrapped up his fourth season as the assistant men’s basketball coach and head junior varsity coach; he was instrumental in the recruitment and development of numerous athletes which included three Red River All-Conference first team selections, two RRAC All-Conference second team selections and three RRAC Honorable Mention nominations.
Prior to Bacone, Nichols served four years as the assistant men’s basketball coach at NAIA Division II Iowa Wesleyan; during his time at Iowa Wesleyan he coached two NAIA All-Americans while Iowa Wesleyan also made the NAIA Division II National Tournament twice in his tenure.
He also spent two and a half seasons as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Johnson County Community College where he helped produce two Junior College All-Americans and won the regional championship in 2006.
Nichols also served as the head varsity assistant during 2002-2004 at Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville, Okla.
Additionally, he played two seasons at Northern Oklahoma College and finished his career at Oklahoma Wesleyan where he was a captain on the 2002 squad that made the NCCAA National Tournament.
Nichols will also serve as the director of basketball operations for the men’s and women’s programs.
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