Jonath Nicholas Named Assistant Coach
August 31, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Former St. John’s Associate Head Coach joins the Runnin’ Bulldogs
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Jonath Nicholas, who spent the past 10 seasons at St. John's University in Queens, N.Y., has been named an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb, head coach Scott Merritt announced Thursday.
"Coach Nicholas is one of the most respected coaches in the country!" said Merritt. "He will add a great deal of experience to our staff. It was important to me to bring in someone whose personality and beliefs would mesh and align with the rest of the staff."
Nicholas was a part of the Red Storm bench from 2004-08 before returning to St. John's in 2012. After Nicholas returned, he was promoted by the Red Storm from assistant coach to associate head coach following the 2017-18 campaign, where he worked alongside current head coach Joe Tartamella. At St. John's, his responsibilities included recruiting, player development, and opponent scouting. Nicholas helped guide the Johnnies to great success under the helm of Tartamella, including three trips to the NCAA tournament in just six seasons (2013, 2014 and 2016). In his return, Nicholas immediately made an impact to the team in recruiting former St. John's standout, Danaejah Grant. The Piscataway, N.J., native was one of four players in program history to be drafted in the WNBA.
Nicholas spent four seasons at Providence College prior to returning to St. John's. With the Friars, he helped bring in a top 20 recruiting class in 2010 and was responsible for game strategy preparation, recruiting, opponent scouting, coaching clinics, scheduling and budget organization.
In his first term with St. John's, Nicholas helped guide the Red Storm to some of its most successful seasons under the direction of former head coach Kim Barnes Arico, including St. John's first NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years during the 2005-06 season. The Red Storm qualified for the Big East Conference Tournament during all four of Nicholas' seasons, earned two WNIT invitations (2005, 2008) and had two 20-win seasons. During 2005-06, Nicholas helped the Red Storm finish with a 22-8 overall record and saw the team advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 78-68 win over the University of California, Berkeley. Overall, Nicholas was a part of nine postseason runs with the Red Storm.
Before making his mark in the Big East, Nicholas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He previously served as Associate Head Coach at Southwestern Community College in San Diego, Calif. from 1988-99.
Nicholas also played at UAB from 1980-82. Prior to UAB, he played two seasons at Mesa Community College in San Diego, where he set single-season and single-game scoring records.
Nicholas completed his bachelor's degree in physical education from Trinity University in 1997.
For more information on the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team, fans can follow the team on X at @GWU_WBK or on Instagram at @gwu_wbk.
"Coach Nicholas is one of the most respected coaches in the country!" said Merritt. "He will add a great deal of experience to our staff. It was important to me to bring in someone whose personality and beliefs would mesh and align with the rest of the staff."
Nicholas was a part of the Red Storm bench from 2004-08 before returning to St. John's in 2012. After Nicholas returned, he was promoted by the Red Storm from assistant coach to associate head coach following the 2017-18 campaign, where he worked alongside current head coach Joe Tartamella. At St. John's, his responsibilities included recruiting, player development, and opponent scouting. Nicholas helped guide the Johnnies to great success under the helm of Tartamella, including three trips to the NCAA tournament in just six seasons (2013, 2014 and 2016). In his return, Nicholas immediately made an impact to the team in recruiting former St. John's standout, Danaejah Grant. The Piscataway, N.J., native was one of four players in program history to be drafted in the WNBA.
Nicholas spent four seasons at Providence College prior to returning to St. John's. With the Friars, he helped bring in a top 20 recruiting class in 2010 and was responsible for game strategy preparation, recruiting, opponent scouting, coaching clinics, scheduling and budget organization.
In his first term with St. John's, Nicholas helped guide the Red Storm to some of its most successful seasons under the direction of former head coach Kim Barnes Arico, including St. John's first NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years during the 2005-06 season. The Red Storm qualified for the Big East Conference Tournament during all four of Nicholas' seasons, earned two WNIT invitations (2005, 2008) and had two 20-win seasons. During 2005-06, Nicholas helped the Red Storm finish with a 22-8 overall record and saw the team advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 78-68 win over the University of California, Berkeley. Overall, Nicholas was a part of nine postseason runs with the Red Storm.
Before making his mark in the Big East, Nicholas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He previously served as Associate Head Coach at Southwestern Community College in San Diego, Calif. from 1988-99.
Nicholas also played at UAB from 1980-82. Prior to UAB, he played two seasons at Mesa Community College in San Diego, where he set single-season and single-game scoring records.
Nicholas completed his bachelor's degree in physical education from Trinity University in 1997.
For more information on the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team, fans can follow the team on X at @GWU_WBK or on Instagram at @gwu_wbk.
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