Derek Nicholson
Current position
TitleLinebackers coach
TeamMiami (FL)
ConferenceACC
Biographical details
Born (1986-11-30) November 30, 1986 (age 37)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma materFlorida State
Playing career
2006–2009Florida State
2009Atlanta Falcons
2010*Seattle Seahawks
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2013Akron (LB)
2014Louisville (OLB/DE)
2015Alcorn State (DL)
2016–2017Southern Miss (DL)
2018–2019Southern Miss (co-DC/LB)
2020–2022Louisville (ILB)
2023Miami (FL) (LB)
2024–presentMiami (FL) (co-DC/LB)

Derek Nicholson (born November 30, 1986) is the inside linebackers coach at Miami (FL) and a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Florida State Seminoles Football and previously coached at Southern Miss and Louisville.

College career

A two-year starter at middle linebacker for the Seminoles, Nicholson led Florida State in tackles during his junior and senior season.[1] In 2008 Nicholson was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Nicholson finished his college career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

After not being selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, Nicholson was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and participated in their mini-camp.[3]

Coaching career

Nicholson began his coaching career in the high school football ranks in North Carolina and Florida before moving onto the college coaching ranks. Nicholson spent 4 seasons at Southern Miss before returning to coach at Louisville, where he had coached in 2014.[4]

Nicholson would follow Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati after the 2022 season.[5] However, in February 2023 Nicholson would be named the linebacker coach at Miami (FL) after Charlie Strong vacated the position.[6]

Personal life

Nicholson attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Nicholson's older brother A. J. Nicholson played for the Cincinnati Bengals and his father Darrell Nicholson played for the New York Giants.

References

  1. ^ "Derek Nicholson - 2009 Draft Tracker - SI.com". Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  2. ^ Stipe, Zach (14 Dec 2022). "Satterfield Announces Several Staff Hires". gobearcats.com. UC Athletics. Retrieved 11 Jan 2023. Nicholson spent the last three seasons at Louisville as the Cardinals' inside linebackers coach. He coached Momo Sanogo to All-ACC honors in 2022. Sanogo has 86 tackles and 8.5 TFLs this season. Nicholson came to Louisville for the second time after spending four seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2018-19) and defensive line coach (2016-17). A standout linebacker at Florida State, he finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, and was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Watch Lists in 2008.
  3. ^ "Falcons release LB Nicholson, two DBs". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 15, 2009.
  4. ^ "Derek Nicholson". gocards.com. Louisville Athletics. Retrieved 11 Jan 2023.
  5. ^ Stipe, Zach (14 Dec 2022). "Satterfield Announces Several Staff Hires". gobearcats.com. UC Athletics. Retrieved 11 Jan 2023. Nicholson spent the last three seasons at Louisville as the Cardinals' inside linebackers coach. He coached Momo Sanogo to All-ACC honors in 2022. Sanogo has 86 tackles and 8.5 TFLs this season. Nicholson came to Louisville for the second time after spending four seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2018-19) and defensive line coach (2016-17). A standout linebacker at Florida State, he finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, and was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Watch Lists in 2008.
  6. ^ Urrutia, Gaby (14 Feb 2023). "Sources: Cincinnati Derek Nicholson will take over as Miami's linebacker coach". 247sports.com. 247Sports. Retrieved 15 Feb 2023.

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