March 24, 2006
KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island assistant football coach Harold Nichols has been promoted to associate head coach. In 11 years of working with current URI head coach Tim Stowers, first at Georgia Southern (1992-96) and now at Rhode Island (2000-present), Nichols has helped produce three top-20 teams and two NCAA Quarterfinalists.
In his triple role of offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and running backs coach, Nichols has played a major role in turning the Rhode Island offense into one of the most potent ground attacks in Division the country. Last season, Rhode Island ranked third in the nation in rushing and led the Atlantic 10 with 318.6 yards per game along with 31 touchdowns. It was the second-highest rushing total in school history. In 2000, the Rams rang up a then-school record 2,244 yards on the ground. In 2001 they piled up 2,565 yards for a 233.2 average, third highest in the Atlantic 10 and a new school record. The Rams topped that total by amassing 2,904 yards in 2002. In 2003, the Rams rambled for 4,005 yards on the ground, second most in the nation, while setting the Atlantic 10 record and yet another school rushing mark. The Rams rushed for 3,074 yards in 2004, second most in school annals.
"When you have an assistant coach that's been with you for over 10 years, he develops an exceptional understanding of what you expect in your program on a day-to-day basis," said Stowers. "Coach Nichols has brought a lot to the table as URI's Offensive Coordinator for the last six years and we expect more of the same in his additional duties. He is not only an excellent football coach, but also a solid administrator and leader of today's student-athlete.
A native of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Nichols played quarterback for Presbyterian from 1985 through '89 while majoring in political science and earning a bachelor's degree in December 1989. He stayed on at Presbyterian and began his coaching career the following month assisting with the quarterbacks and running backs.
After two years at Presbyterian, he moved on to Georgia Southern, where Stowers had won the Division I-AA title in 1990. From 1992-96, Nichols helped the Eagles to a 33-15 mark and two NCAA playoff appearances. Each time, in 1993 and '95, they won their opening-round game but fell in the quarterfinals to the eventual national champion (Youngstown State, then Montana) and finished 10-3. Nichols coached wide receivers, running backs, defensive ends and kickers, and he served as recruiting coordinator.
In 1997 Nichols returned to Presbyterian for three years as recruiting coordinator and as coach of the wide receivers and kickers. He helped head coach Daryl Dickey take the Blue Hose from 5-6 in '97 to 8-3 and 7-4 the next two seasons before rejoining Stowers at Rhode Island.
"Harold is nationally respected for managing an offense that consistently ranks among the top Division I-AA programs in the nation," said Rhode Island Athletics Director Tom McElroy. "Tim and I believe this promotion will also recognize his many administrative contributions to the URI program and our sudent-athletes. We are very excited to have him and his family as part of the URI athletic community."
Nichols and his wife, Dee, are the parents of a son and two daughters: Cameron and Corey (born in 2001) and Cassie (1998).
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