Nichols played quarterback for head coach Elliott Poss at Presbyterian College before graduating in 1989 as a political science major.
Then he spent five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at I-AA powerhouse Georgia Southern University.
In 2000, he began an eight-year run as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Rhode Island.
[3] On January 14, 2009, Nichols was hired as head football coach of the Blue Hose, succeeding Bobby Bentley.
[4] He took over a team transitioning into NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Big South Conference.