William J. Nicks
Encyclopedia
William J. "Billy" Nicks (August 2, 1905 – November 2, 1999) was an American football
player and coach. He coached at historically black colleges
in the Southern United States
from 1930 to 1965. Nicks served as the head football coach at Morris Brown College
in Georgia (1930–1935, 1937–1939, 1941–1942) and at Prairie View A&M University
in Texas (1945–1947, 1952–1965), compiling a career college football
record of 188–57–21. He was the NAIA
Coach of the Year in 1958 and his teams were declared the black college football national champions
six times. Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 1999.
in Atlanta, Georgia. Nicks was head football coach at Morris Brown from 1930 to 1935, again from 1937 to 1939, and for two more years in 1941 and 1942. His record at Morris Brown was 66–22–13 for 11 years, and was honored by the Pittsburgh Courier
when his 1941 team was named "Black College National Champions".
located in Prairie View, Texas
and he held that position for seventeen seasons, from 1945 until 1965. His career coaching record at Prairie View was 126 wins, 38 losses, and 8 ties—far and away the winningest coach in school history.
Nicks led the Panthers to five black college national titles and six Southwestern Athletic Conference
titles. In the days of segregation, he had the pick of nearly every good black high school player in Texas. A good number of them went into coaching; at one point nearly all of the black high school coaches in the state had played for him. Nicks often called his former players to send their best prospects to "The Hill," and wasn't above threatening to have them fired if they didn't do so.
Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1999. Nicks is buried at the Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Pearland, Texas
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He coached at historically black colleges
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
from 1930 to 1965. Nicks served as the head football coach at Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
in Georgia (1930–1935, 1937–1939, 1941–1942) and at Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
in Texas (1945–1947, 1952–1965), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 188–57–21. He was the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Coach of the Year in 1958 and his teams were declared the black college football national champions
Black college football national championship
The black college football national championship is a mythical national championship won by the best black college football team in the United States of America. There has been some criticism of this title on the grounds that the schools in the various polls compete in different levels of...
six times. Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 1999.
Morris Brown
Nicks took first collegiate head coaching position at his alma mater, Morris Brown CollegeMorris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
in Atlanta, Georgia. Nicks was head football coach at Morris Brown from 1930 to 1935, again from 1937 to 1939, and for two more years in 1941 and 1942. His record at Morris Brown was 66–22–13 for 11 years, and was honored by the Pittsburgh Courier
Pittsburgh Courier
The Pittsburgh Courier was an American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.A pillar of the Black Press, it rose...
when his 1941 team was named "Black College National Champions".
Prairie View A&M
Coach Nicks was the eighth head coach for the Prairie View A&M University PanthersPrairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
located in Prairie View, Texas
Prairie View, Texas
Prairie View is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,410 at the 2000 census.Prairie View A&M University is located in the city.-Geography:Prairie View is located at ....
and he held that position for seventeen seasons, from 1945 until 1965. His career coaching record at Prairie View was 126 wins, 38 losses, and 8 ties—far and away the winningest coach in school history.
Nicks led the Panthers to five black college national titles and six Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
titles. In the days of segregation, he had the pick of nearly every good black high school player in Texas. A good number of them went into coaching; at one point nearly all of the black high school coaches in the state had played for him. Nicks often called his former players to send their best prospects to "The Hill," and wasn't above threatening to have them fired if they didn't do so.
Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1999. Nicks is buried at the Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Pearland, Texas
Pearland, Texas
Pearland , is a city located along the Gulf Coast region in the US state of Texas within the metropolitan area and is in the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris. As of the census of 2000, the city's population was 37,640. As of 2008, Pearland is estimated to have a population of 90,700...
.