Hampton University Athletics

Angela Nicholson starts her fifth year as head softball coach at Hampton University in 2021. She came to Hampton after spending three seasons in the same capacity at Eastern Illinois University.
 
This is her fourth head coaching job at the Div. I level.
 
A magical start to the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Hampton started 15-4 and had wins over a pair of teams preseason picked to win their conference in DePaul (Big East) and George Washington (Atlantic 10).  The team had one senior with the rest being freshman or sophomores.
 
In her first season of Big South competition in 2019, her Lady Pirates finished 23-25 overall and 7-17 in Big South action.  Taylor Warrick was named Honorable Mention All-Big South as the Lady Pirates swept Presbyterian and took single games from Longwood, Winthrop, Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern.
 
She guided Hampton to a 24-28 record in her second season, including an 11-7 mark in conference action. HU made an impact in the state in her second year, sweeping a doubleheader from ACC-opponent, Virginia. She led outfielder DaSha Hill to a record-breaking season on the base paths. Hill was a First Team All-MEAC and Second Team All-State selection after leading the league in stolen bases (45), breaking the school record in the process.
 
Facing a daunting schedule with the first 23 games on the road in her inaugural season, Nicholson helped guide the Lady Pirates to a 23-22 overall record and a stellar 17-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division mark to win the division.  Four players earned All-MEAC honors and freshman outfielder Taylor Warrick was named to the second team All-State squad by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.
 
In each of her three seasons at Eastern Illinois, Nicholson led the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. EIU finished in third place overall and second in the West Division during the 2014 campaign, and earned a No. 6 seed during the 2015 season and 2016 seasons. Thirteen different Panthers have earned postseason accolades under Nicholson's tenure, including five First Team and six Second Team All-OVC honorees.
 
In 2014, Eastern Illinois won 38 games, and Nicholson went 84-71 in her three seasons.
 
Prior to coming to EIU, Nicholson was the head coach at Cleveland State University for seven seasons, where she helped build the Vikings program into a top team in the Horizon League.
 
Nicholson posted a record of 211-152 at Cleveland State.
 
She led Cleveland State to Horizon League regular-season titles in 2008 and 2010, sandwiched around a Horizon League Tournament championship in 2009. The 2009 title was Cleveland State’s first as a member of the Horizon League, and the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. The 2008 regular-season title was also the first such title in program history.
 
Nicholson also 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 in Dara Toman and Erica McNew, respectively. Nicholson herself was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year two twice – in 2008 and 2010. In 2010, Cleveland State won a school-record 44 games – including a record 22 games in conference play.
 
Prior to her time at Cleveland State, Nicholson coached one season at Butler in 2006. She also 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 and made 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 385-293-1.
 
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, Hampton (NCAA DI)
2020 … 15-4/0-0
2019 ... 23-25/7-17(9th) ... 
2018 ... 24-28/11-7(4th) ... MEAC Tourney participant
2017 … 23-22/17-1(1st) … MEAC Tourney participant
Totals … 85-79 (.518) / 35-25(.583)
 
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 Champions (No. 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)