COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced Thursday that Derek Nicholson will join the Tigers football program and serve as an assistant coach. Nicholson will coach Mizzou’s linebackers.
Nicholson comes to Columbia after a two-year stint at the University of Miami under head coach Mario Cristobal. He served one season (2023) as the Hurricanes linebackers coach before being elevated to his most recent position as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2024.
“Derek brings a wealth of experience with him both as a coach, coordinator and former NFL player,” Drinkwitz said. “What stood out to us was his energy and passion for the game and his proven ability to develop high-level talent. We believe he’ll be a perfect fit to help mentor our ‘Death Row Defense’ as we continue to take these next steps forward as a program. We could not be more excited to welcome Derek, Onnie and their entire family to Columbia”
While in Coral Gables, Nicholson helped the Hurricanes to a 17-9 overall record, including a 10-3 mark in 2024 for their first 10-win season since 2017. During that time, Miami registered nine Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wins, participated in two bowl games (2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe and 2024 Pop-Tarts) and finished with an 11-2 mark at Hard Rock Stadium.
Nicholson had a hand in the development of two-time Second Team All-ACC linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, who led the Hurricanes in tackles (82 and 96) and tackles for loss (18.0 and 11.0) in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Additionally, Nicholson’s linebacking group helped the Hurricanes rank in the top-20 in sacks and rushing defense the last two seasons.
“I appreciate and respect the culture Coach Drinkwitz has built at Mizzou and I could not be more thankful for the opportunity to join his staff,” Nicholson said. “I think we align in a lot of ways in how we want to lead these young men and I’m excited to get started working with the staff and student-athletes as we strive for success, on and off the field. My family and I can’t wait to get to Columbia.”
Prior to his time at Miami, Nicholson served three seasons (2020-22) as the inside linebackers coach on Scott Satterfield’s staff at the University of Louisville. While there, Nicholson and the Cardinals earned 18 wins and two bowl invitations (2021 ServPro First Responder and 2022 Wasabi Fenway).
Nicholson mentored two-time All-ACC linebacker and 2022 Third Team All-American Yasir Abdullah, who closed his career ranking second all-time in program history in tackles for loss (43.0) and eighth in sacks (23.5). Abdullah went on to be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He also coached linebackers C.J. Avery and Momo Sanogo to Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition during his time at Louisville. Avery led the team in tackles (78) in 2020 and concluded his career with 249 tackles, while Sanogo finished with 89 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks during his lone season with the Cardinals in 2022.
Before his second stint at Louisville, Nicholson spent four years (2016-19) on staff at the University of Southern Mississippi. The first two seasons (2016-17) he served as the Golden Eagles’ defensive line coach before being promoted to the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach his final two years (2018-19). Southern Miss participated in three bowl games during his four years with the program (2016 R+L Carriers New Orleans, 2017 Walk-On’s Independence and 2019 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces).
During his last season in 2019, Nicholson assisted with a defensive unit that led Conference USA and finished 18th nationally in rushing defense (115.8). Additionally, the Golden Eagles finished third in the league that year and 37th in the country in total defense (352.5). Under Nicholson’s tutelage, linebacker Hayes Maple was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman squad after finishing with 31 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The year prior, with Nicholson guiding the Golden Eagles defense, they established themselves as one of the nation’s top units, finishing third in total defense (278.4), sixth in rushing defense (102.7), 10th in passing yards allowed (175.6) and 19th in scoring defense (19.8). Two of his linebackers, Racheem Boothe and Sherrod Ruff, went on to earn 2018 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA recognition.
In 2017, Nicholson coached one Second Team All-Conference USA selection, Xavier Thigpen, and three honorable mention league picks in Rod Crayton, LaDarius Harris and Draper Riley. His first year in Hattiesburg saw him mentor Dylan Bradley (first team) and Thigpen (honorable mention) to All-Conference USA nods.
Nicholson spent the 2015 season as the defensive line coach at Alcorn State University, where he helped lead the Braves to a Southwestern Athletic Conference title. He worked with a defense line that finished fourth in the country in sacks (3.38) and fifth in tackles for loss (9.0). Four of his defensive linemen registered seven-plus sacks during the season. The Braves concluded the year with an appearance in the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
He made his first stop at Louisville in 2014, where he was a graduate assistant working with the outside linebackers and defensive ends. He helped the Cardinals to a 9-4 mark, including an appearance in the 2014 Belk Bowl against Georgia. Nicholson worked with a defensive unit that season that led the nation in interceptions (26), while finishing fourth in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.250), fifth in team passing efficiency defense (105.65), sixth in total defense (308.5), ninth in sacks (3.15) and 10th in rushing defense (108.9).
He began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Akron, where he spent one season (2013) as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the linebackers. In his lone year, he helped develop Jatavis Brown and Justin March to first and third team Mid-American Conference honors, respectively. It marked the first time since 2010 that Akron placed a linebacker on the first team, and the first time since 2001 that the Zips had multiple linebackers receive all-conference accolades.
Nicholson earned his coaching start at Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, N.C. (2011) and Maclay School in Tallahassee, Fla. (2012), where he served as the defensive coordinator.
Nicholson was a four-year letterwinner (2005-06-07-08) and three-year starter (2006-07-08) at linebacker for Florida State University. He finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns and was one of only four players to lead the team in tackles in consecutive seasons (99 in 2007 and 81 in 2008) during the Bobby Bowden era. In 2008, Nicholson garnered All-ACC honors after recording 15.5 tackles for loss, which ranked tied for 10th in FSU history for a single season. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and played the 2009 season before sustaining a career-ending knee injury.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Nicholson graduated from Florida State University in just three years with a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2008. He added a master’s degree in sports administration from Akron in 2014 and a master’s degree in justice administration from Louisville in 2015.
Nicholson is married to the former Onnie Trusty of Media, Pa., and they are the parents of daughters, Alana and Amaya, and son, Dace. Onnie was a two-year (2006-07) member of the women’s soccer team at Florida State, helping the Seminoles to back-to-back final four appearances before a hip injury curtailed her collegiate career. Nicholson’s older brother, A.J., lettered four seasons (2002-03-04-05) at linebacker at Florida State, earning All-America honors in 2005 before being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Nicholson’s father, Darrell, played linebacker at the University of North Carolina, lettering four seasons (1978-79-80-81) for the Tar Heels, earning All-ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 1978, First Team All-ACC recognition in 1980 and graduating as the program’s career tackles leader (467) before being drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 1982 NFL Draft.
THE DEREK NICHOLSON FILE
Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Education: Florida State, 2008 (sports management); Akron, 2014 (sport administration) and Louisville, 2015 (justice administration)
Wife: Onnie
Children: Alana, Amaya and Dace
Birthday: Nov. 30, 1986
NICHOLSON’S COACHING CAREER
- 2025-pres. – Missouri (Linebackers)
- 2024 – Miami (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
- 2023 – Miami (Linebackers)
- 2020-22 – Louisville (Inside Linebackers)
- 2018-19 – Southern Mississippi (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
- 2016-17 – Southern Mississippi (Defensive Line)
- 2015 – Alcorn State (Defensive Line)
- 2014 – Louisville (Graduate Assistant/Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends)
- 2013 – Akron (Graduate Assistant/Linebackers)
- 2012 – Maclay School [Fla.] (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2011 – Oak Ridge Military Academy [N.C.] (Defensive Coordinator)
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