Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Position: Head Softball Coach
Years at EIU: 4th season (hired July 19, 2013)
Alma Mater: Cleveland State, 2000

Angie Nicholson was hired as the EIU Panther softball coach on July 19, 2013, following her DI stints at Cleveland State and Butler.

In her three seasons at Eastern, she has led the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament each year. EIU finished in third place overall and second in the West Division during the 2014 campaign, and earned a No. 6 seed berth during the 2015 season. During her most recent season, Nicholson led the Panthers to a No. 2 overall seed in the 2016 OVC Tournament. Thirteen different Panthers have earned post-season accolades under Nicholson's tenure, including five First Team and six Second Team All-OVC awards.

Prior to coming to EIU, Nicholson was the head coach at CSU for seven seasons where she has helped build the Vikings program into a top team in the Horizon League.  Nicholson posted a record of 211-152 at Cleveland State.

Making the NCAA Tournament and winning conference championships are something that Nicholson has familiarity with from her time at Cleveland State.  She led the program to Horizon League regular season titles in 2008 and 2010 sandwiched around a Horizon League Tournament Championship in 2009.  The 2009 tournament championship was Cleveland State’s first as a member of the Horizon League as the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.  Nicholson coached the Vikings to tournament runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.

During her tenure at Cleveland State, Nicholson coached three Horizon League Players of the Year and three Pitchers of the Year.  In 2013 she coached the Horizon League Player and Newcomer of the Year.  Nicholson herself has been named the Horizon League Coach of the Year two times (2008 & 2010).

Prior to her time at Cleveland State, Nicholson coached one season at Butler in 2006.  She had one season at NAIA member Ursuline College where she increased the program’s win total from three to 25 in her one season.  She began her coaching career as the head coach at Cuyahoga Community College (2000-04) where she posted 94 wins making the Region 12 Tournament in three of four seasons.  She was the NJCAA Region 12 Coach of the Year in 2004 as her team finished sixth in the nation.  Her collegiate coaching record is 347-264-1.

Nicholson played softball at Cleveland State where she earned her undergraduate degree in 2000.  She was a two time All-Conference selection as a catcher.

Head Coach … Eastern Illinois (NCAA DI)
2016 ... 25-28 / 17-8 (2nd) ... OVC Tourney participant
2015 ... 21-27 / 14-11 (6th) ... OVC Tourney participant
2014 … 38-17 / 17-7 (3rd/2nd West) ... OVC Tourney participant
Totals ... 84-71 (.542) / 48-26 (.649)

Head Coach … Cleveland State (NCAA DI)
2013 ... 22-27 / 10-9 (4th) ... Horizon League Tourney participant
2012 ... 17-39 / 9-15 (8th)
2011 ... 29-21 / 13-8 (4th) ... HL Tourney participant
2010 ... 44-15 / 22-2 (1st) ... HL Coach of the Year ... HL Tourney Runner-Up
2009 ... 35-18 / 17-5 (2nd) ... HL Tourney Champ & NCAA Regional berth
2008 ... 31-18 / 14-4 (1st) ... HL Coach of the Year' ... HL Tourney Runner-Up
2007 ... 33-14 / 8-6 (2nd) ... HL Tourney Runner-Up
Totals … 211-152 (.581)

Head Coach … Butler (NCAA DI)
2006 ... 17-30-1 / 4-16 (8th)
Total … 17-30-1 (.365)
 
Head Coach … Ursuline College (NAIA now NCAA DII)
2005 ... 25-18 ... Regional berth
Total … 25-18 (.581)

Head Coach … Cuyahoga Community College (NJCAA)
2004 ... 30-15 ... OCCAC & NJCAA Regional 12 Coach of the Year ... Regional Champ (#6 Rank)
2003 ... 29-17
2002 ... 21-16 ... OCCAC Coach of the Year
2001 ... 14-16
Totals … 94-64 (.595)
 
Education
Cleveland State, 2000
 
Playing Career
Softball  ... Cleveland State (1997-2000)