Jim Nichols
Head Coach & Quarterbacks
This is head coach Jim Nichols’ second year at Faulkner University. Though 2007 marks the inaugural season for the football program, Nichols spent his first year assembling his coaching staff and recruiting athletes. In addition to obtaining personnel, he focused on ordering equipment, securing sites for both the spring and fall practices and filling the schedule with tough competition from throughout the southeastern United States.
Before he began the arduous task of building a football program from the ground up, Nichols spent numerous years as a graduate assistant at Auburn University. While at Auburn, Nichols had the opportunity to work in every aspect of the game and embraced the privilege of working with some of the best coaches in college football.
Nichols assisted defensive coordinator David Gibbs with recruiting and daily operations in 2005. His responsibilities included weekly defensive preparation, which called for scouting reports, film breakdowns, call sheets and securing game day supplies. He also assisted Terry Price in coaching the defensive ends. Nichols worked with the program off the filed by coordinating study hall and class check for players throughout the season.
Nichols assisted defensive coordinator Gene Chizik throughout the 2004 season. He assisted in coaching the defensive backs and helped with weekly defensive preparation as well as recruiting. He also coached the scout team offense and represented Auburn University at the Southeastern Conference youth football clinic.
In 2003, under the guidance of Eldon Hawley, Auburn’s director of football operations, Nichols learned the administrative tasks required to run a successful athletic program. That same year he spent a great deal of time coaching special teams with Eddie Gran and worked closely with head coach Tommy Tuberville on the kicking game.
Prior to coaching at the college level, Nichols worked as a special education teacher and assistant football coach at Murray County High School in Chatsworth, Georgia. He coached wide receivers, defensive backs and special teams for two years. Nichols graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where he was a punter on the 1996 football team. He and his wife Haley have been married for eight years and are the proud parents of daughter Gracie, age 7, and son Peyton, 2.