Texas A&M University-Kingsville Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation
D. Scott Gines Ed.D. named
Craig Nicholson the new head coach of the Javelina softball program in June of 2017. A veteran collegiate coach, Nicholson owns a 1,170-346-1 in his 25 seasons as a head coach. The 2022 campaign will be his fifth in charge of the program
Nicholson and his squad logged a number of accomplishments in 2021. With a victory over Lubbock Christian on April 16th, Nicholson reached 121 wins as Javelina head coach, making him the winningest coach in program history. He also became the first to coach to the Javs to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and TAMUK's time in the national postseason saw them grab the 15th tournament victory in school history, knocking off Angelo State in their opening game.
Six Javelinas earned all-conference recognition, including four members of the All-Lone Star Conference First-Team. Pitcher Saidi Castillo and outfielder Loren Kelly were both named to the league's top squad for a second time, while infielder Anastasia Leibas earned a third All-LSC nod with a selection to the all-conference second-team. Freshman Kayla Gonzales' selection to the All-LSC First-Team and LSC All-Freshman team was accompanied by a spot on the all-region second-team.
Despite a truncated 2020 season, Nicholson still guided his team to a 17-9 record, marking the program's fourth straight winning year. That represents the program's longest such streak since they had seven consecutive winning campaigns from 1999-2005. TAMUK also achieved its highest preseason ranking ever, taking the No. 2 spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Preseason Poll.
In 2019, Nicholson was at helm for the best season in program history. The Javelinas set school records for wins in a season (52), win percentage (.839) and longest win streak (19). They compiled a record of 14-4 against ranked teams, including a sweep of No. 2 A&M-Commerce in March. TAMUK won the LSC Championship in the regular season and the LSC Tournament Championship in the same season for the first time ever before also capturing the South Central Regional Title and earning TAMUK's first ever trip to the College World Series, where they won four games before finishing as the National Runner-Up. For his efforts, Nicholson was named LSC Coach of the Year and the Javelina staff earned the title of South Central Regional Coaching Staff of the Year according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The 2019 Javelinas placed eight student-athletes on the All-LSC roster, including a program-best five on the first-team. Pitcher Saidi Castillo became the first TAMUK softball player honored as LSC Freshman of the Year and would later garner a spot on the NFCA All-South Central Region First-Team. Breanna Smith and Anastasia Leibas also earned all-region nods.
In his first year in the Blue and Gold, Nicholson's Javelinas ran up their highest win total since 2009, crafting a record of 29-26. TAMUK's regular season included a series victory over then No. 11 West Texas A&M where the Javs swept a Saturday doubleheader against the Lady Buffs. The sweep marked the first time since 2005 the Javelinas took both ends of a twin bill from a ranked squad. The team also reached the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time since 2009 and six of Nicholson's student-athletes were recognized by the conference at the end of the regular season. Outfielder
Loren Kelly and catcher
Roxy Chapa garnered spots on the All-LSC second-team, while pitcher
Sarah Gilbert, third baseman
Rachael Longoria and first baseman/designated player
Anastasia Leibas were chosen for the third-team. Longoria and outfielder
Haley Boyett earned Golden Glove awards.
Nicholson spent two seasons at Arizona State University (2014-15), compiling an 82-34-1 mark and back-to-back postseason appearances. The 2015 season saw Nicholson lead the Sun Devils to a postseason berth despite being forced to rely on two true freshmen pitchers to carry the team. The Sun Devils compiled a 36-22 overall record and were 12-11 in conference play, good for fourth overall in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils advanced to the Baton Rouge Regional and were two outs away from a super-regional appearance after having the eventual College World Series participant LSU Tigers on the ropes in a winner-take-all finale before falling in extra innings.
Under Nicholson, the Sun Devils saw Amber Freeman earn First Team All-America accolades while also being named an Academic All-American and the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. As a senior, Freeman bat .436 on the year with 15 home runs and 51 RBI. She was part of a potent 1-2 punch that also included Haley Steele, who finished with 69 RBI, the third most in single season program history.
ASU saw seven players earn Pac-12 All-Conference honors: Freeman and Steele on the first team, Bethany Kemp and Chelsea Gonzales on the second team and Nikki Girard, Breanna Macha and Sierra Rodriguez earning honorable mentions). Macha and true freshman pitcher Dale Ryndak were each named to the All-Freshman team while Gonzales, Girard, Sashel Palacios and Jenn Soria earned All-Pac-12 Defensive team honors.
Freeman also earned NFCA All-West Region first team accolades while Steele earned a second team nod and Kemp, Palacios and Macha were on the third team.
In his first season as the head coach at Arizona State, Nicholson led the Sun Devils to an impressive 46-12-1 record and a postseason berth. ASU was one of sixteen teams selected to host an NCAA Regional earning the No. 9 national seed. Nicholson guided ASU to a third-place finish in his inaugural season in the Pac-12. Despite it being just his first season, Nicholson led ASU to victories over powerhouse programs Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, Washington and UCLA. Under his tutelage, two Sun Devils, Freeman and Dallas Escobedo, were named NFCA Second Team All-Americans. In Nicholson's new offensive system, Freeman put up career numbers, batting.406 with 11 home runs on her way to a First Team All-Pac 12 season. In her final season for ASU, Escobedo, who also was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team, was dominant in the circle, winning 24 games and posting a 1.95 ERA with 336 strikeouts in just over 233 innings.
Nicholson's offensive approach featured the Sun Devil's bat .322 as a team, while limiting opponents to a .206 BA. Off the field, 10 student-athletes received Pac-12 All-Academic Honors.
Nicholson was the head coach at Ball State for the for seven seasons where he amassed a 241-162 record with the Cardinals. On top of coaching at Ball State, Nicholson was the associate head coach for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in 2008 and helped the team to a NPF title.
The fastest coach in program history to pass the 100 and 200-win marks, Nicholson was instrumental in Ball State capturing three Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championships (2009, 2010, 2012), a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and the program's first All-American. Offensive minded, Nicholson saw much growth in the Ball State program under his tutelage.
In 2013, Ball State finished its season in the MAC Tournament with a 37-17 overall record and 18-3 in conference for its fourth league title in the last five years and a MAC Coach of the Year accolade for Nicholson. Nicholson saw the program earn its first All-American, with a third team selection in the two-time MAC Player of the Year, Jennifer Gilbert.
Nicholson spent 11 years at Central Arizona, where his coaching record was 723-90. He led CAC to four National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships (1997, 1999, 2003, 2005), seven conference championships and eight regional titles. In that time, he was named Coach of the Year four times and the NFCA Junior College Coach of the Year on three occasions.
In addition to his coaching duties at CAC, Nicholson was a professor of sport and fitness. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education. He earned his master's in sport science from the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, Ala. Nicholson is married to April and they have four children; Cade, Avery, Payton and Colby.
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conference |
Highlight |
| 2015 |
Arizona State |
36-22 |
12-11 |
NCAA Tournament |
| 2014 |
Arizona State |
46-12-1 |
15-7-1 |
NCAA Tournament |
| 2013 |
Ball State |
37-17 |
18-3 |
MAC Champions |
| 2012 |
Ball State |
40-15 |
17-3 |
MAC Champions |
| 2011 |
Ball State |
34-24 |
13-8 |
|
| 2010 |
Ball State |
43-16 |
17-5 |
MAC Champions/NCAA Tournament |
| 2009 |
Ball State |
29-24 |
18-3 |
MAC Champions |
| 2008 |
Ball State |
36-32 |
9-11 |
|
| 2007 |
Ball State |
22-34 |
8-14 |
|
| 1996-2006 |
Central Arizona |
723-90 (11 Seasons) |
|
4 NJCAA National Championships
7 Conference Championships
8 Regional Titles
4-Time Coach of the Year
3-Time NFCA JC Coach of the Year |
| Total |
20 seasons |
1046-286-1 (.785) |
127-65-1 (.658) |
2 NCAA Tournament Appearances |
