Nick Nicolau
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | New York City,New York, U.S. | May 5, 1933
Died | December 6, 2014 Wareham, Massachusetts,U.S. | (aged 81)
Playing career | |
1957–1959 | Southern Connecticut |
Position(s) | Running back |
Coaching career (HCunless noted) | |
1960 | Southern Connecticut (assistant) |
1961 | Springfield(assistant) |
1962–1964 | Bridgeport(assistant) |
1965–1969 | Bridgeport |
1970 | Massachusetts(RB) |
1971–1972 | Connecticut(assistant) |
1973–1975 | Kentucky(RB) |
1976 | Kent State(assistant) |
1977 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats(RB) |
1978–1979 | Montreal Alouettes(RB) |
1980 | New Orleans Saints(RB) |
1981 | Denver Broncos(special assistant) |
1982–1987 | Denver Broncos (RB) |
1988 | Los Angeles Raiders(WR) |
1989–1991 | Buffalo Bills(WR) |
1992–1994 | Indianapolis Colts(OC) |
1995–1996 | Jacksonville Jaguars(TE) |
1997–1998 | San Diego Chargers(AHC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 24–22 |
Bowls | 0–1 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1EFC(1969) | |
Awards | |
2×EFCCoach of the Year (1966, 1969) SCSUAthletic Hall of Fame (1995) | |
Anthero"Nick"Nicolau(May 5, 1933 – December 6, 2014) was a longtimeNational Football League(NFL) andcollege footballassistant coach.He graduated fromSouthern Connecticut State University.[1]
He spent most of the 1960s -'70s coaching at college programs such asBridgeport (Head Coach),Massachusetts,Connecticut,Kentucky,andKent State.
Nicolau broke into the NFL with theNew Orleans Saintsin 1980 under then head coachDick Stanfel.He moved on to theDenver Broncos,coaching therunning backsfrom 1981 through 1987. Some of the players he coached includedDave Preston,Sammy Winder,andSteve Sewell.
A dispute ended his tenure in Denver. He landed with theLos Angeles Raiders,but got into a dispute with another assistant coach,Art Shell.Shell was supported by owner and managing partnerAl Davis,who fired Nicolau. He then went to theBuffalo Billsand served as theirwide receiverscoach from 1989 to 1991. There he worked with talents such asAndre ReedandDon Beebe.It was rumored that Nicolau left Buffalo due to a dispute with offensive line coach Tom Bresnahan who became offensive coordinator the next season.
In 1992, he became theoffensive coordinatorof theIndianapolis Coltsunder head coachTed Marchibrodawith whom he worked in Buffalo. He helped the Colts to a 9–7 record in 1992 and an 8–8 record in 1994. He helped developReggie Langhorneas a receiver and worked withquarterbackJeff Georgeas well. In 1994, he helped turn running backMarshall Faulkas a rookie while also working with bothJim HarbaughandDon Majkowskiat quarterback.
Nicolau then spent two seasons coaching thetight endsfor theJacksonville Jaguars,helping to developPete Mitchellas a blocker and receiver. In 1997, Jaguars offensive coordinatorKevin Gilbridebecame the head coach of theSan Diego Chargersand Nicolau followed him to California. There he served two years as the Chargers assistant head coach before retiring after the1998 NFL season.He died at age 81, on December 6, 2014.[2]
Head coaching record
[edit]Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bridgeport Purple Knights(Eastern Football Conference)(1965–1969) | |||||||||
1965 | Bridgeport | 3–6 | 1–3 | 4th | |||||
1966 | Bridgeport | 7–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
1967 | Bridgeport | 2–6 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
1968 | Bridgeport | 4–5 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1969 | Bridgeport | 8–2 | 4–0 | 1st | LKnute Rockne Bowl | ||||
Bridgeport: | 24–22 | 13–8 | |||||||
Total: | 24–22 | ||||||||
National championshipConference titleConference division title or championship game berth |
References
[edit]- ^"Hall of Fame - Anthero 'Nick' Nicolau Class of 1957".Southern Connecticut State University.RetrievedJanuary 11,2013.
- ^"Longtime football coach Nicolau dies at 81".ESPN.com.December 6, 2014.RetrievedNovember 22,2021.
- 1933 births
- 2014 deaths
- American football running backs
- Bridgeport Purple Knights football coaches
- Buffalo Bills coaches
- UConn Huskies football coaches
- Denver Broncos coaches
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaches
- Indianapolis Colts coaches
- Jacksonville Jaguars coaches
- Kent State Golden Flashes football coaches
- Kentucky Wildcats football coaches
- Los Angeles Raiders coaches
- Montreal Alouettes coaches
- New Orleans Saints coaches
- Southern Connecticut Owls football coaches
- Southern Connecticut Owls football players
- Players of American football from New York City
- Springfield Pride football coaches
- UMass Minutemen football coaches