USC announces passing of wide receiver coach Dave Nichol
Incredibly sad news came out of the USC Trojans football program on Friday, announcing the passing of inside wide receivers coach Dave Nichol. Head coach Lincoln Riley announced Nichol would be stepping away from the team on Monday, needing to “on a private medical matter.”
Nichol was just 45 years old. He is survived by his father, Robert Nichol Sr., and brothers Robert Nichol Jr. and family and Jimmy Nichol and family.
“We are heartbroken and devastated,” Riley said in a school-released statement. “Dave was such a tremendous human being and a fantastic football coach. He absolutely loved the game and constantly poured his heart and soul into his teams. He will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. We, as a program, look forward to playing and coaching for him as we move forward.”
The USC Trojans hired Nichol this season, with Riley making the move from the Oklahoma Sooners to USC. Nichol was named the inside receivers coach alongside being the Associate Head Coach for Offense. He and Riley go way back, working together at multiple stops in East Carolina and Texas Tech.
Prior to being hired by the coaches, Nichol was working at Mississippi State with head coach Mike Leach. Those two also worked together while at Washington State, with Nichol serving as both an inside and outside wide receivers coach.
Nichol began his coaching career at Texas Tech, serving as a student coach in 2000.
Luke Huard was named the interim inside wide receivers coach on Monday when Nichols originally stepped away from the program.
“Luke Huard, who joined the USC football staff in February as an offensive analyst, will serve indefinitely as the interim inside wide receivers coach while Dave Nichol, USC’s inside wide receivers coach and Associate Head Coach for Offense since December, focuses on a private medical matter,” Riley said in a statement on Monday.