Nicholson enters his third season with the program in 2020 after arriving in 2018 alongside the Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. Nicholson serves as the team’s hitting, infield and third base coach.
In 2019, Stanford finished with its fifth-highest win percentage (.763) in program history while earning its first Super Regional berth since 2014 and 11th in program history. Stanford bashed 88 home runs, the sixth-most in program history, leading Pac-12 play in homers (48). The Cardinal's .9768 fielding percentage was the seventh-best in program history.
During Nicholson’s first season on The Farm in 2018, Stanford finished with a 0.9782 fielding percentage, the third-highest in program history while winning its first conference championship since 2004.
Nicholson spent the 2017 as an assistant at Sacramento State, where he helped lead the Hornets to the Stanford Regional. It marked his second stint with the Hornets after he served as the team's infield and hitting coach in 2011 and 2012.
Under Nicholson’s direction, the Hornets finished the 2012 season with a school single-season record .979 fielding percentage, committing just 47 errors in 59 games. The 2011 squad finished with a .969 fielding mark, the third-best in school history.
Nicholson also had two stints at his alma mater, Texas. Following his playing career, where he only missed three starts in three years as the Longhorns second baseman and spent six years in the minor leagues, Nicholson was a volunteer assistant at Texas in 2009-10. From 2013-16, he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Longhorns under head coach Augie Garrido.
The Longhorns posted a 50-16-1 mark and finished as runner-up at the College World Series in 2009, before registering a 50-13 record and advancing to NCAA Super Regional play in 2010. In 2009, Texas ranked eighth nationally with a .976 fielding percentage and a year later, the Longhorns led the nation with a .980 clip. Nicholson's first recruiting haul at Texas – the class of 2013 – was ranked No. 2 nationally by Baseball America.
Before entering coaching, Nicholson was selected in the 11th round of the 2000 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. During his professional career from 2000-05 with Chicago and the Colorado Rockies, he reached the Triple-A level.
For his collegiate playing career, Nicholson compiled a .327 career average with 147 runs, 223 hits, 37 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 114 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He was named the team’s most valuable player in 1999 and 2000.
Nicholson earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas in 2006. He and his wife, Marin, have two daughters, Shay and Lena.