Erskine College Athletics

    Kevin Nichols enters his 19th year leading the Erskine baseball program. Nichols, 44, has guided the Erskine College baseball program for the past eighteen seasons, highlighted by breaking the school's single season record for wins (2008), topping the 40 win mark three times  2006 (42-16) 2008 (44-13) 2010 (41-15),  leading the Fleet to its first NCAA regional appearance, the 2016 conference championship, and winning 2016 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year Honors. 

    In his eighteen seasons, Nichols has amassed 588 career wins. Nichols picked up his 434th career win on February 6th 2013 moving him past Harry Stillie as the winningest baseball coach in school history.  On February 17th 2015, Nichols picked up his 500th career victory as the Flying Fleet defeated Anderson 19-2. 
    
    A true players coach, his personal but demanding coaching style has brought success to the Erskine’s baseball program. The program also received its first ever national ranking on 3/7/05 when Erskine entered the NCBWA poll at #23, and has been ranked as high as #2 in the country under Nichols. Since 2005, the Fleet, have been consistently ranked in the top 25 in the country.
    
    Under Nichols, 35 players have signed professional contracts, 100 have been named All-Conference, 33 have earned All-Region honors, 6 have been named CVAC Freshmen of the year, 3 have been named Conference Player of the Year, 2 have been named Pitcher of the Year 12 have been named All-American, and two players have won National Player of the Year honors (Casey Smith 2005, Bryan Fogle 2010).
    
    He has spearheaded improvements to Grier Field in his tenure, including a new professional playing surface, installation of a new drainage system, irrigation system, a new scoreboard, regulation size fence, bull pens, fairway mower for the field, new locker room and team room, and a 5 foot brick wall that surrounds the field.

     The Philadelphia Phillies drafted the 1996 graduate of The University of Alabama in 1996 after a remarkable collegiate career. He was named to the All-American Team three times and broke four NCAA records in 1996: home runs in a game (4), runs in batted in a game (13), total bases in a game (22), and hits in a game (6). The former third baseman spent three seasons in the Phillies organization. Nichols is a member of the PBR (Professional Baseball Representatives) and has served on the NCAA regional committee since 2009.

    During his tenure, the Fleet, have broken every offensive record in the schools long history and rewrote the NCAA record books. Since 2003, the Fleet, have been consistently ranked in the top ten in the country in batting average, home runs, doubles, and runs scored.  Nichols has brought Erskine to national attention through his potent offenses.

    In 2005 the emergence of the Erskine Baseball program came to form.  The 2005 squad broke the school record for wins with 38, and cracked the top 25 for the first time in program history.  Casey Smith garnered national player of the year honors and teammate Antonio Sabatini was first team All American.  Sabatini’s 30 doubles were enough to be the national leader in 2005.  The Fleet also placed 5 players on the All CVAC squad and 4 were named All Region.  As a team the Fleet held the national lead for doubles and finished 3^rd in the country in batting average.  The 2^nd place finish in the CVAC regular season was the highest in school history at the time, and is still tied for the best in school history.  As a part of their brilliant seasons, Casey Smith (9^th), Antonio Sabatini (14^th), and Ben Blumenthal (22^nd) were all drafted in the 2005 amateur draft.
 
    The 2006 squad fought through losing three draft picks and once again proved to be a serious contender for a conference title.  The young, but talented Fleet again finished 2^nd in the CVAC, and finished only a game out of first place with a season record of 42-16.  JJ Newman, Shelton Cisson, and Robbie Knapp not only anchored the top of the lineup, but also probably the most talented infield to play at Erskine College.  JJ Newman had an all conference season and was a late round draft pick of the New York Mets, Shelton Cisson was the national leader in hits, and Robbie Knapp was a 3^rd Team All American.  All this was done with the 3 infielders only making 34 errors between them.  Russell Reid also broke the single season wins record with his 11 wins.  
 
     In 2007 the Fleet went through what most would call a rebuilding season, but with the young talent that arrived on campus the Fleet.  Bryan Fogle, Chas Anthony, and Greg Huff all made their freshman debuts for the Fleet and started the careers of some of the most prolific offensive careers in NCAA DII history.  The Fleet went on to win 36 games with their young lineup.  Shelton Cisson, in his senior season, completed another All CVAC season and broke the national hits and doubles records.  Jake Williams, the Fleet Closer for 3 years also completed his career and broke the NCAA DII career saves record.
 
     The 2008 season was a memorable one for the Fleet in which they broke the school wins record with 44 wins and made their first appearance in the top 15 nationally.  Chas Anthony had a breakout season and was named All American.  The Fleet finished 3^rd in the newly named Conference Carolinas, and made the NCAA DII regional appearance in school history.  This team was littered with all conference members and its 23 game winning steak to begin the season remains a school record.
 
     2009 was a year where the Fleet made great stride and stayed in the top 25 for the majority of the season.  Bryan Fogle made great strides and became another post season All American for the program.  His 20 home runs broke the school record and he was also named Conference Carolinas Player of the Year.  Chas Anthony remained a key component to team success and was once again named All American at the conclusion of the season.  Greg Huff also hit a career best 18 home runs and was named to the All Region team.
 
    2010, is seen as the best team in school history.  The Fleet won 41 games and made their second appearance in the NCAA DII regional tournament.  William Buzhardt broke the single season wins record and was on honorable mention All American.  His 15 wins led the nation in 2010.  Once again Chas Anthony was named post season All American and is the only player in Erskine history to be named All American three times.  He also broke the national doubles record, a record that was held by former teammate Shelton Cisson.  John Bolding had a career best in home runs and was named first team All-CC.  Bryan Fogle had one of the greatest seasons in recent NCAA DII history in which he was Consensus National Player of the Year by three publications.  His 28 home runs broke the single season school record, and his 73 career home runs are a NCAA DII record.  He also broke the NCAA DII total bases record and RBI’s record.  Fogle was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays after a brilliant college career.
 
     2011 the Fleet were rebuilding after the loss of the most prolific offensive player in school history, but bounced back to win 28 games.  Zach Smith was named Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and Atlee Pearson went onto break former Erskine standout, Jake Williams, national saves record.  At the conclusion of the season Pearson signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Padres.
 
     The Fleet cracked the 30 win mark again in 2012, with 32 wins.  Drew Willingham, Will Huff, and Chase Corn were named all conference.  The Fleet made a run at a conference championship and a possible regional bid late in the season.   They came up short in the conference championship game, but a strong finish to the season.

    In 2013, Erskine won 27 games while Chase Corn and Heath Gray were named first team all conference.  The Fleet again got hot in the conference tournament, with Drew Willingham was also named to the all tournament team.

    In 2014 the Fleet would finish with their 12th straight winning season, going 34-17 and finishing second in the conference.  Erskine would also make it to the final four of the conference tournament for the third straight year.  Nine players were named all conference, including Austin Gambrell who was named Conference Pitcher of the Year.  As an offense, Erskine would finish in the top five nationally in four categories.  The Fleet would finish second in slugging percentage (0.514), third in home runs per game (1.12), fourth in home runs (57), and fourth in doubles per game (2.45).

    In 2015 the Fleet would finish the season 35-17 and on Mach 17th would recieve the highest national ranking in school history, being ranked second by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.  Seven different players were named All-Conference and Brandon Overstreet would become the 12th player  in school history to be named All-American.  Nationally the Fleet would finish 8th in batting average (.340), 9th in slugging (.533) and 10th in home runs (70).

     In 2016 the Fleet went 37-16 and won the Conference Carolinas regular season championship.  Erskine had six players named All-Conference, while Joe Johnson was named Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year.  Johnson and Henry Faunce were also named ABCA Second Team All-Region.

Individual NCAA records and Honors:
Shelton Cisson NCAA career Hits Leader (366) 2004-2007
Bryan Fogle NCAA career Home Run Leader (73) 2007-2010
Bryan Fogle NCAA career Total Base Leader (630) 2007-2010
Bryan Fogle NCAA career Runs Batted In Leader (310) 2007-2010
Chas Anthony NCAA career Doubles Leader (87) 2007-2010
Atlee Pearson NCAA career Saves Leader (33) 2008-2011
Casey Smith NCAA National Player of the Year (2005)
Bryan Fogle NCAA National Player of the Year (2010)





Nichols, his wife Kristy, daughter Libby (15), son Brick (13), and youngest son Jax (11) live in nearby Greenwood, South Carolina.