Scot Rewind: A Salute to Nan Nichols, a Pioneer in Women's Athletics

Welcome back to the Scot Rewind, where WoosterAthletics.com is taking a look back at a big win, a monster individual performance, or a significant milestone corresponding with each week of the 2020-2021 academic year. This week's rewind honors the legacy of Nan Nichols, a pioneer in women's athletics, and is being posted on November 23, the 24th anniversary of the first-ever day of the women's basketball program's annual Nan Nichols Classic. The following is a tribute to Nichols from the 1996 Nan Nichols Classic program.

As one of the early leaders in the women's sports movement, Nan Nichols had a dramatic impact on women's athletics, both at The College of Wooster and at the national level.

A quiet crusader for change, Nichols, along with colleagues Maria Sexton and Ginny Hunt, built a broad-based varsity athletic program for women at Wooster, one that would become a model for other colleges and universities through the country.

Still, much of what she had done went unnoticed until after she retired. It was only then that many came to realize and appreciate all she had accomplished for women's athletics, particularly in the sport of basketball.

As a way of honoring the longtime coach and administrator, Wooster announced that it would sponsor the Nan Nichols Basketball Classic beginning in 1996. This would be no ordinary tournament, however. Corporate sponsorship from Nike provided shirts and travel bags for all participants and sweat suits for members of the winning team the inaugural year.

The classic is a fitting tribute to Nichols, who first came to Wooster as a physical education instructor in 1962. The Butler University graduate left after one year to pursue her master's degree at Bowling Green State University, but she came back to the College for good in 1965.

It was no coincidence that her return to campus marked the beginning of varsity athletics for women at Wooster. Field hockey, basketball, and volleyball were established that year, and during the next two decades, the programs continued to expand, reaching a maximum of 11 sports in 1985 when varsity soccer was added.

As head women's basketball coach, she guided the Scots to three national tournament appearances, one conference championship, and an overall record of 186-131. As head women's swimming coach, she led the Scots to a remarkable 70-8 record, even though she had never been a competitive swimmer.

As a teacher, she presided over such courses as Principles of Physical Education, the History and Philosophy of Physical Education, Sport in America, and Motor Learning. She also served as an instructor for swimming, tennis, volleyball, and water safety. In addition, she directed an Independent Study project.

As an administrator, she served as Director of Women's Athletics for 21 years (1974-95). Along the way, she touched a number of lives in many different ways. Her involvement at the College outside of athletics included serving on the Academic Standards and Greek Life committees as well as the Judiciary Board. Off campus, she served as chairperson for the Midwest Association for Intercollegiate Sports for Women and the Ohio Athletic Conference Committee on Women's Sports. She also played a major role in the establishment of the Centennial Conference for women in 1983 and the North Coast Athletic Conference in 1984.

More important than what she did, however, was who she was and continues to be – a role model who provided leadership and guidance with grace, dignity, integrity, and class. And the Nan Nichols Classic helps ensure that no one ever forgets.

"When I came to Wooster, we did not have any varsity sports for women, but we have come a long way in the past 30 years, said Nichols in the 1996 classic program. "It has been wonderful to experience and be a part of the growth, not only in women's basketball, but in all sports."

"This tournament is much more than a tribute to me," she added. "It is really a tribute to all of women's sports. The fact that Nike was willing to provide support – which is unheard of at the Div. III level (at the time) – makes it really exciting. Women's sports have finally reached the point where people are starting to notice, which is very gratifying for those of us who worked so many years for this to happen."

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