Troy Nickerson named new Army wrestling head coach

Troy Nickerson was named the new Army wrestling head coach Monday, per a release from the team. He comes over from Northern Colorado where he held the same position.

Nickerson replaces the outgoing Kevin Ward, who stepped down as head coach to take an assistant coaching job at Oklahoma State, his alma mater. Nickerson is the 10th head coach in Army wrestling history.

Nickerson led Northern Colorado for 11 seasons and will now come east. He has a proven track record of winning after making the Bears into a perennial top 25 program.

“It’s an incredible honor to lead a program with the history and tradition of Army Wrestling,” Nickerson said. “The opportunity to develop leaders of character while competing for championships is truly special. I look forward to building strong relationships with our cadet-athletes, alumni, and the broader Army community.”

Athletic director Tom Theodorakis also released a statement on the move. He’s excited for the new era of Army wrestling under Nickerson.

“Troy brings a championship pedigree, a proven track record of success on and off the mat, and a clear vision for the future of Army Wrestling,” Theodorakis said. “His leadership and commitment to developing cadet-athletes aligns with the core values of the Academy. We are excited to welcome him and his family to West Point.”

Nickerson coached Andrew Alirez to the 2023 NCAA title at 141 pounds while at Northern Colorado, becoming the first champion in school history. This past season, Nickerson coached four NCAA qualifiers, including Alirez, two All-Americans in Stevo Poulin (125) and Vinny Zerban (157). 

Over the course of his tenure, Nickerson coached six All-Americans and 37 NCAA qualifiers. As a wrestler, Nickerson was a four-time All-American at Cornell and won the 2009 NCAA title at 125 pounds.

“As an alumnus, I could not be more excited to welcome Troy as our new head coach,” Phillip Simons, a 2005 Army grad and three-time All-American, said. “Kevin Ward leaves behind a legacy of success and momentum, and I have full confidence that Troy will build on that foundation while pushing the program to even greater heights. I’ve known Troy for a long time and trained and competed with him in international tournaments. His competitive drive and leadership align perfectly with our warrior ethos. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. I am proud to welcome him to the Army Wrestling Family!”