Harold Nichols
Encyclopedia
Harold Nichols was a collegiate wrestler and wrestling coach. He won the 1939 NCAA individual championship and went on to coach college wrestling for 37 years. He built the Iowa State Cyclones
into a national wrestling power. In 32 years at Iowa State, Nichols' wrestlers won six NCAA team championships and 38 NCAA individual championships.
, Nichols attended the University of Michigan
to wrestle under legendary wrestling coach, Cliff Keen
. While at Michigan, Nichols won the NCAA collegiate wrestling championship of 1939 in the 145-pound weight class. He interrupted his college studies to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. After the war, he received a master's degree at the University of Illinois and a doctorate at Michigan.
, compiling a 37-18-3 record in five years. In 1954, he became the coach at Iowa State University
, where he remained as coach for 32 years. In 37 years as a college wrestling coach, Nichols compiled a record of 492-93-14. He became Iowa State's coach in 1954, and his first Cyclone team went 8-0. He remained the coach at Iowa State until 1985, and built Iowa State into a national wrestling powerhouse. In 32 years at Iowa State, his Cyclone teams were 456-75-11 and placed among the top three teams in the country 26 times, winning six NCAA team championships, and finishing second 11 times and third 9 times. From 1957-1983, the Cyclones only once finished lower than fourth place in the national meet. Nichols' peak years at Iowa state were the nine years from 1965-1974, during which time his teams won five national titles, three runner-up awards and a third-place finish.
Nichols' wrestlers also won 38 individual NCAA championships, 91 individual Big Eight Conference
championships and seven Olympic medals. At the 1972 Summer Olympics
, two of his wrestlers, Dan Gable
and Ben Peterson won gold medals. A third, Chris Taylor
, won a bronze medal. Nichols' pupil Dan Gable went on to coach wrestling at the University of Iowa
for 21 years. Nichols retired in 1985.
Nichols was considered to be "ahead of his time concerning race relations," and was a pioneer in bringing minorities into college wrestling, including African Americans, Hispanics and Cubans.
Nichols was known as "Nick" to the wrestling world.
with a seven-foot-tall vase from his collection, considered one of the world's largest.
in 1983. He was named national coach of the year three times and Wrestling Man of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News. He has also been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Helms Foundation Wrestling Hall of Fame.
. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, and sons William and Harold.
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones are the athletic teams of Iowa State University. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.*Men's sports...
into a national wrestling power. In 32 years at Iowa State, Nichols' wrestlers won six NCAA team championships and 38 NCAA individual championships.
College wrestler
A native of Cresco, IowaCresco, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,905 people, 1,652 households, and 1,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.1 people per square mile . There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 543.1 per square mile...
, Nichols attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
to wrestle under legendary wrestling coach, Cliff Keen
Cliff Keen
Clifford Patrick Keen was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference championships, and coached 68 All-American wrestlers...
. While at Michigan, Nichols won the NCAA collegiate wrestling championship of 1939 in the 145-pound weight class. He interrupted his college studies to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. After the war, he received a master's degree at the University of Illinois and a doctorate at Michigan.
Wrestling coach
He later became a wrestling coach, described by The New York Times as "one of college wrestling's most successful and respected coaches." Nichols began his coaching career in 1948 at Arkansas State UniversityArkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
, compiling a 37-18-3 record in five years. In 1954, he became the coach at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, where he remained as coach for 32 years. In 37 years as a college wrestling coach, Nichols compiled a record of 492-93-14. He became Iowa State's coach in 1954, and his first Cyclone team went 8-0. He remained the coach at Iowa State until 1985, and built Iowa State into a national wrestling powerhouse. In 32 years at Iowa State, his Cyclone teams were 456-75-11 and placed among the top three teams in the country 26 times, winning six NCAA team championships, and finishing second 11 times and third 9 times. From 1957-1983, the Cyclones only once finished lower than fourth place in the national meet. Nichols' peak years at Iowa state were the nine years from 1965-1974, during which time his teams won five national titles, three runner-up awards and a third-place finish.
Nichols' wrestlers also won 38 individual NCAA championships, 91 individual Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
championships and seven Olympic medals. At the 1972 Summer Olympics
Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, 20 wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were 10 weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and 10 classes in freestyle wrestling.- Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
, two of his wrestlers, Dan Gable
Dan Gable
Dan Gable is an American amateur wrestler. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career—his last, and winning gold at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany while not giving up a single point...
and Ben Peterson won gold medals. A third, Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (wrestler)
Chris Taylor was an American freestyle wrestler who competed at 1972 Munich Olympics. At 412 pounds he was the heaviest Olympian ever until the appearance of judoka Ricardo Blas, Jr. in 2008...
, won a bronze medal. Nichols' pupil Dan Gable went on to coach wrestling at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
for 21 years. Nichols retired in 1985.
Nichols was considered to be "ahead of his time concerning race relations," and was a pioneer in bringing minorities into college wrestling, including African Americans, Hispanics and Cubans.
Nichols was known as "Nick" to the wrestling world.
Pottery collector
In addition to wrestling, Nichols had a passion for collecting pottery. In 1983, he appeared on Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
with a seven-foot-tall vase from his collection, considered one of the world's largest.
Honors
Nichols was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 1983. He was named national coach of the year three times and Wrestling Man of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News. He has also been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on the campus of Oklahoma State University. The museum opened on September 11, 1976...
, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Helms Foundation Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Family and death
Nichols died in February 1997 at age 79 in Ames, IowaAmes, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, and sons William and Harold.