Brett Nichols enters in his sixth season with the Gardner-Webb program and will continue his role as Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Nichols has shown himself to be a strong play caller since taking over the role and has maintained a sterling reputation as a mentor to his quarterbacks.
Nichols will oversee the development of two young quarterbacks in 2018, with redshirt freshmen Jaylen Myers and Jordan Smith vying for the starting spot. Both have shown impressive strides so far since taking a seat in Nichols’ quarterback room. Recent graduate Tyrell Maxwell established himself as the top runner at the position in program history – but improved significantly as a passer under Nichols’ direction. The 2016 Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year broke his own school rushing records for a quarterback and became the first man at his position to ever lead the Big South Conference in rushing for a season. Maxwell also earned second-team All-America honors from Hero Sports, making him the first GWU quarterback to earn All-America honors since 2002 – when Hall of Famer Jeremy Martin did so. Nichols’ spread option offense was versatile in 2016 overall, producing a pair of 900-yard rushers for the first time in school history. A total of six offensive players earned All-Big South Conference honors in 2016. Maxwell topped the 900-yard mark rushing again in 2017, and finished his career as the program’s second leading rusher – regardless of position. He also earned an invitation to the Los Angeles Rams rookie mini camp.
Nichols’ work helped Maxwell emerge in 2015, as he was twice named Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week. He topped the 100-yard mark passing and rushing twice on the season – including a record-breaking effort in a 34-20 win over No. 15 Liberty (10/10).
Former GWU quarterback Lucas Beatty also flourished under Nichols’ care, posting career-best numbers in each of his final two seasons – including 2,564 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014. All told, Beatty finished his career with 8,175 yards and 42 touchdowns and was named to the 2014 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team for his efforts in the classroom. Tight end Seth Cranfill also flourished in Nichols’ offense, becoming the Big South’s all-time leader in tight end receptions and earning FCS All-America honors from the Associated Press. Receiver Kenny Cook enjoyed another All-Conference season and signed as a priority free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in April.
During his first season calling the plays, Nichols helped the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a program first – with Juanne Blount topping 1,000 yards on the ground and Cook recording more than 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Beatty, who topped the 2,000-yard mark through the air for the second season in a row, established several personal records that he broke one season later. He led the Big South Conference in both completions and attempts during the 2013 regular season.
Gardner-Webb topped the 50-point mark three times and posted a 5-1 mark when scoring at least 20 points on the season in 2013. In addition to All-Big South honors for Blount and Cook, the Runnin’ Bulldogs had redshirt freshman tight end Mike Estes on the All-Conference team – and saw Cook earn FCS All-America honors from four different outlets. Beatty excelled in the classroom as well, earning first-team Capital One Academic All-District III honors at quarterback, and was a member of the Big South’s All-Academic team.
Nichols spent the 2012 season in the same role at North Greenville University, where he helped the Crusaders post wins in five of their final six games – with four of those wins coming against members of the South Atlantic Conference. Nichols’ top-2 quarterbacks each completed better than 58 percent of their passes in 2012, despite never having seen college game action before the season.
Nichols spent the 2011 season tutoring receivers and tight ends at Division II Brevard (N.C.) College and saw Eric Watts earn All-SAC honors with 33 catches for 533 yards and eight scores in an option-oriented offensive system.
Nichols also spent three seasons coaching receivers and quarterbacks at Hillcrest (S.C.)
High and spent the 2007 season as an offensive intern at Furman.
The Paladins posted a 6-5 record during Nichols’ time with the program, and topped the 40-point mark four times – including three games with 50 or more points scored. Furman averaged 31.6 points and 407.8 yards of total offense per game in 2007.
Dual-threat quarterback Renaldo Gray passed for 1,792 yards and ran for 497 more while accounting for 22 touchdowns. Paladins fullback Jerome Felton went on to be drafted in the fifth round (146th pick) by the Detroit Lions. Felton played in his first Pro Bowl following a strong 2012 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Nichols was a letterwinner at the University of South Carolina, where he wrapped up his career learning under legendary quarterbacks mentor Steve Spurrier and started his career under Lou Holtz. A former walk-on with the Gamecocks, Nichols worked himself into a scholarship by his senior season in 2006.
Nichols played quarterback at Hillcrest (S.C.) High on the prep level, passing for 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior to earn a spot on the All-Greenville County squad.
Nichols graduated from South Carolina in 2006 with a business degree. He is married to Elise Nichols of Fountain Inn, S.C. The couple has two children, Emma Davis and William Brett, Jr.
