Wisconsin-Stevens Point head coach Wil Nichol has announced that he will step down from his position as head coach on June 1 to take an NHL front office position.
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I and my family are extremely excited about,” Nichol said in a statement released by UWSP. “It has been an incredible privilege to lead this program for the past four years. I’m proud of our 100 percent graduation rate during my tenure, how our players have conducted themselves on and off the ice, including their heavy involvement in community service, and how they have represented the school. I am confident that this culture will continue in the future.”
Nichol has guided the Pointers to a 46-44-7 overall record and a 20-32-4 record in the NCHA.
The Pointers have qualified for the league’s postseason tournament each of the last three seasons and last season defeated Wisconsin-Stout in the quarterfinal round to advance to the team’s first NCHA tournament semifinal appearance since 2004, snapping a 12-game losing streak in the postseason.
“We are grateful for the four years Wil has been our head coach,” said UW-Stevens Point athletic director Frank O’Brien. “He has been a part of our hockey family as a player, assistant and head coach and we are thankful for his efforts. We wish him the best in his new endeavor.”
Nichol was a defenseman for the Pointers from 1994-98 and captained UW-Stevens Point’s NCAA Division III runner-up team in 1998. Nichol played in 121 career games with the Pointers, totaling five goals and 20 assists.
