Nicholson promoted to Dakota Wesleyan head coach
MITCHELL, S.D. (DWU) — Dakota Wesleyan University promotes Sam Nicholson to head men's basketball coach.
Dakota Wesleyan University is proud to announce the promotion of Sam Nicholson as the next Head Coach of the DWU Men's Basketball program. Nicholson becomes the 22nd head coach in program history, following two impactful seasons as the team's Assistant Coach.
Dakota Wesleyan Athletics will host a press conference on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:00 p.m. in the Sherman Center. The event is open to the public and all media members and will also be streamed, with details to come.
Nicholson's elevation to head coach comes after a successful tenure as an assistant, where he played a pivotal role in developing talent and advancing the program. During his two seasons on staff, the Tigers made a National Tournament appearance and produced seven All-Conference selections, as well as one Freshman of the Year.
A Look at Coach Nicholson's Journey:
A native of Blair, Neb., Nicholson joined the DWU staff in the summer of 2023 after gaining coaching experience throughout the region. Before DWU, he served as an assistant coach at non-conference rival Dakota State under veteran coach Gary Garner, contributing to recruiting, scouting, and player development.
He also spent time at NCAA Division II Concordia University, St. Paul as a graduate assistant, and began his coaching journey as a student assistant at the University of South Dakota. During his four-year stint at USD, he was part of the staff during the Coyotes' 2017 Summit League Championship run.
Nicholson earned his bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education from the University of South Dakota in 2020, and later completed his Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia-St. Paul in 2022.
DWU Director of Athletics Ross Cimpl shared his excitement about Nicholson's promotion:
'I am so grateful to be able to fill this position with Coach Sam Nicholson. I am so excited for Sam and the DWU Men's Basketball program. Sam has earned this opportunity with his work ethic and his ability to build meaningful relationships with players and recruits. The future of DWU Men's Basketball is very bright. I look forward to watching Coach Nicholson and our program grow. We have very high expectations and goals, and I'm confident we have the right leader in place to achieve them.'
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