Bio

Bill Nickell has led the Defiance College football program since 2022 as the program's 39th head coach. Nickell possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience as a coach and a player with experience at every level of college football. He is also poised to oversee the program's transition to NAIA competition beginning in 2024 with Defiance becoming the only NAIA football school in the state of Ohio.

Bill Nickell Head Coaching Record
2022 - 3-7, 3-4 HCAC
2023 - 4-6, 3-4 HCAC
Overall Record 7-13

Hired in late June prior to the 2022 season, he went to work immediately.  In his first season, the Yellow Jackets experienced an immediate turnaround going from one win to three, and improved in almost every major statistic from the previous year. The Yellow Jackets secured victories in 3 of the last 4 games of the year including a season-finale victory at arch-rival Bluffton, snapping a two-year losing streak to the Beavers prior to Nickell's arrival. His first season as head coach resulted in the most All-Conference selections since 2010, most wins (3-7) and the highest conference finish (5th) in almost a decade.

During Coach Nickell's second season, the Yellow Jackets added a win (4-6) from the year before and had one of the best offensive seasons in 30 years. The Jackets' 32 points per game, 395 yards per game, 203 rushing yards per game and 24 rushing touchdowns were all the highest outputs since the 1993 season. On top of that, DC sported 11 All-Conference selections, snapped a 14-game losing streak in non-conference play and defeated an undefeated team for the first time since 2001 with a Week 4 win at Hanover.

Prior to arriving at Defiance, he was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at NCAA Division I FCS University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During the 2021 season, he helped lead the team to SWAC West Champions, a Top 25 FCS ranking for first time in school history, an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history and had the most All-Conference selections in school history.

Before his time at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, he spent five seasons at NCAA Division II program Lock Haven University where he was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator, and in 2019 was the interim head coach.

During his time at Lock Haven, he helped break many school records and helped guide the offense to top 10 finishes in almost every offensive category each season. His offenses hold the #1, #2, #4, #6, #9 total offenses and #1, #3, #5 scoring offenses for a single-season in school history.

In 2014, he served as the assistant offensive line and tight ends coach at NCAA Division I FBS Kent State University. The offensive line only gave up 18 sacks on 442 pass attempts and he helped coach Casey Pierce who was an All-MAC selection and signed by the Detroit Lions.

Prior to Kent State, he spent three seasons at NCAA Division II Urbana University where he served as the associate head coach, run game coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator, offensive line coach, and tight ends coach.

In 2011, the offense finished first in the conference in total offense, scoring, passing and rushing offense, had the most consecutive wins in school history, most wins in a season in school history, set 13 offensive season records for proficiency, outscored conference opponents 129-16, and were GLFC Conference champions. In 2012, the offense finished first in GLVC in total offense and passing offense, and had the second-most wins in school history. Finally, in 2013, tied second-most wins in school history, coached publication All-American and First-Team All-American Kyle Wallace, and finished first in the MEC in total offense, passing offense, passing efficiency, and first downs.

As a coach, Nickell has been recognized for his coaching achievements throughout his career including being named a finalist for the 2019 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year, a 2017 AFCA Top 35 Under 35 Selection, 2016 American Red Cross "Spirit of a Hero" Award, and the American Red Cross "Community Impact" Award.

He has coached 28 All-Conference selections, seven NCAA D-II All-Region selections, 13 All-Americans, a 2021 Willie Roaf Award Winner, Top 10 HBCU Players in the Nation by ProFootball Network and Draft Network, two players nominated for the Gene Upshaw Award (Division II Lineman of the Year), and numerous All-Star Game Selections.

As a player, Nickell was a four-year member of the Urbana University football team where he played on the offensive line and was a two-year captain. During his playing career, he was an NCAA Division II All-American on the offensive line, D2 Football.com First-Team All-Independent, First-Team All-Conference, 2010 All-Ohio College Football by Ohio Football.com (All Division Publication), Two-time Offensive Lineman of the Year, and was named First-Team offensive lineman on Urbana University's All-Quarter Century Team.

Nickell also received several academic honors during his playing career which include being a member of the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Team in 2011, four-time member of Urbana's Honor Roll, First-Team Academic All-Conference, and named to the Dean's List.

"First off, I would like to thank my wife and family for their continuous love and support," said Coach Nickell.  "I would also like to thank Defiance College and the D.C. community for the opportunity to lead the football program and rebuild the Yellow Jackets championship tradition.  It is apparent to me that the support from the alumni and administration are in place to build a successful program.  I am beyond excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to get to work with our student-athletes."

Defiance College also holds a special place for Nickell as both of his parents, Walt Nickell ('86) and Angela (Klima) Nickell ('82), are graduates of the college.

Bill graduated from Urbana University in 2011 with a bachelor’s in education and is in the process of getting his master's degree from Kent State University in sports management.

Nickell is married to his wife Andrea and they have two sons, Luke and Wyatt.