BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe has announced that BGSU men's soccer head coach Eric Nichols signed a multi-year contract extension. Nichols' contract has been extended for five years and now runs through Dec. 16, 2029. 

"Eric Nichols has been a cornerstone of BGSU Athletics for over 16 seasons," said van der Merwe. "His dedication to building a winning culture, developing student-athletes, and representing Bowling Green with pride and integrity is unparalleled. We are thrilled to extend his leadership and look forward to continued success under his guidance." 

Nichols recently completed his 16th season at the helm of the Falcons. Since arriving at BG on Feb. 17, 2009, he has built not just a winning team, but a successful program both on and off the pitch. Upon his arrival in Northwest Ohio, Nichols transformed the program's culture, showing steady improvement each season. 

"Bowling Green is an incredible University and community that has profoundly impacted my family and me," said Nichols. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this program, working with outstanding young men, and sharing meaningful experiences with the wonderful Bowling Green community. 

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the leadership at Bowling Green, especially President Rodney K. Rogers and Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe, for their guidance and unwavering support. Looking ahead, I am excited about the future and remain committed to building on our success, striving for even greater achievements." 

Nichols has a record of 131-119-44 in 16 seasons with the Falcons. When he took over, the program was at the bottom of the MAC standings. Through consistent effort, he has returned BGSU men's soccer to prominence in the conference and the region. After going 3-12-3 in his initial season, Nichols' teams have posted a 128-107-41 (.538) record over the last 15 years, all while competing against a challenging schedule. 
 
Over the last five seasons, Nichols has guided the Falcons to a 56-37-15 mark, achieving nearly a .600 winning percentage. 
 
The 2024 season saw the Falcons finish with an overall record of 12-6-2, marking BGSU's fifth winning season in the last six years. The Orange and Brown recorded a 4-3-1 mark in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action, tying for third in the nine-team league. The Falcons then picked up two wins to advance to the MVC Tournament final before falling in overtime. 

The 2024 campaign brought numerous accolades for the program. Kyle Cusimano was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team, while Trace Terry earned second-team honors. This marked the first time in 25 years that BGSU had an All-American, and the first time in program history that two players earned All-American honors in the same season. 

Terry also garnered All-America recognition from TopDrawerSoccer.com, being named to the website's 'Best XI' Third Team. 

Cusimano was named the MVC's Defensive Player of the Year, with Terry and Alberto Anaya joining him on the All-MVC first team. Additionally, Brendan Graves and Bennett Painter earned All-MVC second team honors. 

Notably, Cusimano and Terry were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region first team before receiving their All-America accolades. Cusimano was also named a semifinalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, joining just 15 players nationwide on the semifinalist list. 

Graves, Terry, and Jake Lane earned spots on the MVC All-Tournament Team, while Lane received the MVC Elite 18 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the finals site of each of the league's 18 championships. 

Nichols' leadership has included guiding the Falcons to the NCAA Championships in consecutive seasons during the same calendar year. 

In 2020 (spring of 2021), BGSU made its first NCAA appearance since 1997. The Falcons returned to the tournament in the fall of 2021, where they earned a historic 1-0 victory over Louisville in the first round. This marked the program's first national tournament win since 1997, with the game-winning goal scored by Nichols' son, Kale. 

Nichols has twice been named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 2016 and the 2020-21 academic year. In 2016, he became just the second BGSU coach to win the award since the MAC began sponsoring men's soccer in 1993. 

Under Nichols' direction, Cochrane Stadium has become a challenging venue for opponents and an engaging environment for fans. Attendance has steadily increased during his tenure, and Nichols played a pivotal role in the Cochrane Stadium lights project, enabling the Falcons to host night matches and enhancing the game-day atmosphere. 

Nichols joined BGSU after serving as an assistant coach at Davidson College in 2008. Before that, he was the head men's soccer coach at Ohio Dominican University from 2004-07, where he compiled a 59-22-1 (.728) record. In 2007, his team was ranked fourth nationally and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals. 

Earlier in his career, Nichols was an assistant coach at Ohio Wesleyan University under Jay Martin. During his four years there, the Battling Bishops went 74-14-3, won four conference titles, and advanced to two NCAA Regional Championships and one Final Four. 

Nichols is the fifth head coach in the storied history of BGSU men's soccer, which celebrated its 60th season in 2024. He joins Mickey Cochrane (1965-77), the late Gary Palmisano (1978-92, 1994), Mel Mahler (1993, 1995-2003), and Fred Thompson (2004-08) on that list. 

Nichols earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Ohio State University in 2000 and has taken graduate courses at BGSU.