Wil Nichol is closely tied to UW-Stevens Point’s deep tradition in men’s hockey and looks to add to those accomplishments in his fourth season as head coach.
Nichol has seen firsthand a UW-Stevens Point history that includes four national championships and two runner-up finishes in nine national tournament appearances. A defenseman for the Pointers from 1994-98, Nichol captained UW-Stevens Point’s NCAA Division III runner-up team in 1998. He played in all 121 possible career games with the Pointers, totaling five goals and 20 assists.
Nichol previously coached Stevens Point Area Senior High to a pair of WIAA state tournament appearances and a 46-3 record over two seasons. The Panthers became the first team to complete an undefeated Wisconsin Valley Conference season, accomplishing the feat in both of Nichol’s seasons with 16-0 league records each year.
He spent the 1998-99 season as a student assistant coach with the Pointers and completed his degree in English. While at UW-Stevens Point, Nichol received the Chancellor’s Leadership Award and the athletic department’s citizenship award. Nichol was then a graduate assistant coach for two seasons at Miami University (Ohio), earning a master’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Sports Studies.
Nichol, a Madison native who attended Madison West High School, was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for one season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League before assuming head coach and general manager roles for the IMG Academy Midget AAA team in Bradenton, Fla. the following year. He returned to Chicago as the head coach and general manager for two seasons in 2003-05 and became the first rookie coach in USHL history to land league coach of the year honors after taking the Steel from ninth place to their only regular season Eastern Conference title in franchise history. Nichol coached 30 players who went on to play Division I college hockey.
He has also served as a head coach and assistant coach at several USA Hockey festivals for select 15, 16 and 17 players. Nichol has assisted with numerous hockey camps, including those at Miami and UW-Stevens Point.
