Kevin Nichols enters his 11th year leading the Erskine baseball program. Nichols, 36, has guided the Erskine College baseball program for the past ten seasons, highlighted by breaking the school's record for wins, producing seven consecutive 30+ win seasons, topping the 40 win mark twice 2006 (42-16) 2008 (44-13), and leading the Fleet to its first NCAA regional appearance. A true players coach, his personal but demanding coaching style has brought success back to the Erskine's baseball program producing 330 wins over the past ten seasons. 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 #6 in the country under Nichols.
During his tenure, the Fleet have broken every offensive record in the schools long history. The 2005 season was no exception when the offense finished the season ranked #1 in the CVAC in batting avg. (.356 #5 in the nation) and finishing ranked #3 in the nation in scoring at 9.9 runs per game. The Fleet also led the nation in Homeruns and Doubles in 2005. Last years team hit .340 with 130 doubles, 105 homeruns, stole 88 bases, and scored 467 runs. Over the past ten seasons the Fleet have consistently finished ranked in the top ten in the nation in Homeruns, Doubles, Runs Batted In, and Runs, during Nichols tenure.
Under Nichols, 20 players have signed professional contracts, 38 have been named All-Conference, 15 have earned All-Region honors, 5 have been named CVAC Freshmen of the year, 2 have been named Conference Player of the Year, 5 have been named All-American, and Casey Smith was named 2005 NCBWA NCAA Division II Player of the
Year. 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. On Nichols "to do list" for the future, he is planning on renovating the dugouts, and put lights on 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 NCAA All-American Team three times playing at Wallace Dothan Community College, the University of Alabama, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Nichols 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 also a member of the PBR (Professional Baseball Representatives)
Nichols, his wife Kristy, daughter Libby (7), son Brick (5), and youngest son Jax (3) live in nearby Greenwood, South Carolina.
Erskine College under Nichols
2000 20-33
2001 28-31
2002 24-33
2003 30-24
2004 32-28
2005 38-16
2006 42-16
2007 36-24
2008 44-13
2009 36-18
