Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Linebackers coach |
Team | Missouri |
Conference | SEC |
Biographical details | |
Born | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. | November 30, 1986
Alma mater | Florida State |
Playing career | |
2006–2009 | Florida State |
2009 | Atlanta Falcons |
2010* | Seattle Seahawks |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
2013 | Akron (LB) |
2014 | Louisville (OLB/DE) |
2015 | Alcorn State (DL) |
2016–2017 | Southern Miss (DL) |
2018–2019 | Southern Miss (co-DC/LB) |
2020–2022 | Louisville (ILB) |
2023 | Miami (FL) (LB) |
2024 | Miami (FL) (co-DC/LB) |
2025-present | Missouri (LB) |
Derek Nicholson (born November 30, 1986) is the inside linebackers coach at Missouri and a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Florida State and previously coached at Southern Miss and Louisville.
A two-year starter at middle linebacker for the Seminoles, Nicholson led Florida State in tackles during his junior and senior season. [1] In 2008 Nicholson was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Nicholson finished his college career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns. [2]
After not being selected in the 2009 NFL draft, Nicholson was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and participated in their mini-camp. [3]
Nicholson began his coaching career in the high school football ranks in North Carolina and Florida before moving onto the college coaching ranks. Nicholson spent 4 seasons at Southern Miss before returning to coach at Louisville, where he had coached in 2014. [4]
Nicholson would follow Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati after the 2022 season. [5] However, in February 2023 Nicholson would be named the linebacker coach at Miami (FL) after Charlie Strong vacated the position. [6]
Nicholson attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Nicholson's older brother A. J. Nicholson played for the Cincinnati Bengals and his father Darrell Nicholson played for the New York Giants.
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Nicholson spent the last three seasons at Louisville as the Cardinals' inside linebackers coach. He coached Momo Sanogo to All-ACC honors in 2022. Sanogo has 86 tackles and 8.5 TFLs this season. Nicholson came to Louisville for the second time after spending four seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2018-19) and defensive line coach (2016-17). A standout linebacker at Florida State, he finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, and was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Watch Lists in 2008.
Nicholson spent the last three seasons at Louisville as the Cardinals' inside linebackers coach. He coached Momo Sanogo to All-ACC honors in 2022. Sanogo has 86 tackles and 8.5 TFLs this season. Nicholson came to Louisville for the second time after spending four seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2018-19) and defensive line coach (2016-17). A standout linebacker at Florida State, he finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, and was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Watch Lists in 2008.