Ball State University Athletics
Craig Nicholson Hired as Softball Coach
July 20, 2006 | Softball
"We are very excited to be adding Craig Nicholson to our staff at Ball State University," athletics director Tom Collins says. "He has been a very successful head coach and has an extremely impressive record with academics among his student-athletes. We believe he has everything necessary to make Ball State softball a power in the Mid-American Conference. Coach Nicholson has all the qualities necessary to be an NCAA Division I head coach, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the Ball State family."
Nicholson has compiled a 723-90 overall head coaching record in 11 years at Central Arizona. He guided the team to NJCAA National Championships in 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2005 plus national runner-up finishes in 1996 and 2000. Central Arizona has won seven conference championships and eight regional titles in Nicholson's 11 seasons.
In addition to his success on the field, Nicholson's student-athletes have compiled a team 3.0 grade-point average or better in nine of his 11 years as the head coach.
Nicholson was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2005 plus was the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Junior College Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999 and 2005.
In addition to his coaching duties, Nicholson is a professor of sport and fitness at Central Arizona and has served as chair of the sports and fitness division since 2005. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education. Nicholson earned his master's degree in sport science from the United States Sports Academy.
Nicholson and his wife, April, are the parents of two children and expecting a third.
