Ohio Valley Conference

Nichols had a legendary career at Tennessee Tech, first as a player and later as a coach, while also being a promoter of the game of golf and spending three years playing professionally on the PGA Tour. 

Born in Algood, Tenn. Nichols grew up as a caddie at the Cookeville Golf Club and would go on to be a four-year letterwinner on the Tennessee Tech men's golf team (1959-63), including being the team captain his senior season. That year he posted a seventh place finish at the OVC Championship while helping the Golden Eagles to a third-place team finish.

After playing professionally Nichols took over the Tennessee Tech men's golf program in 1979 and was responsible for establishing the Golden Eagle women's team in 1986. During the 1990 season he guided the TTU men's golf squad to the 1990 OVC Championship, the first for the program in 35 years. The victory also helped the TTU athletics department clinch its first-ever OVC All-Sports Trophy. Later he would be named OVC Coach of the Year following the 2005 season. 

Nichols would later guide the Tennessee Tech women's golf team to the 2000 and 2001 OVC Championships and be named OVC Coach of the Year in each of those seasons. 

A 32-year veteran with the TTU program, Nichols was inducted into the Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame in 1990. After a battle with cancer Nichols passed away at the age of 66 on March 16, 2008.