Former MoWest assistant coach named Mizzou women’s basketball assistant

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KQTV) -- A former Missouri Western State University assistant basketball coach has been named to the Mizzou women's basketball coaching staff.

Mizzou women's basketball coach Kellie Harper announced Monday that Mike Nicholson has joined her staff.

Nicholson, a Savannah, Mo. native, spent the last five seasons as the Kansas State women's basketball chief of staff. During his tenure on Jeff Mittie's staff, Nicholson helped guide the Wildcats to 112 wins and three NCAA tournament appearances.

Before going to Kansas State, Nicholson was the top assistant at Central Missouri. Nicholson earned the 2021 WBCA National Assistant Coach of the Year award. He helped lead the Jennies to a 2018 Division II National Championship, a 2021 NCAA Division II Final Four appearance, two MIAA regular-season titles and one MIAA tournament championship.

Nicholson spent 14 years across two stints as the top assistant at Missouri Western State University. He was an assistant coach for Hall of Fame head coach Tom Smith. Nicholson helped the Griffon men to 228 wins, three MIAA regular-season titles, two MIAA tournament championships, and five NCAA Division II tournament appearances.

The former Griffon assistant also was on the Kansas City staff in the mid-1990s under Lee Hunt and Bob Sundvold.