Alabama Adds Coaching Veteran Chester Nichols to Staff
4/24/2026 3:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Nichols will join the Crimson Tide as an assistant coach with 24 years of experience
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama women's basketball head coach Pauline Love announced the addition of Chester Nichols, a 24-year coaching veteran, to her staff on Friday. Nichols will serve as an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide for the upcoming 2026-27 season after serving a four-year stint at Southern Illinois as the associate head coach.
"Chester brings a complete skill set to our staff. He has a strong eye for talent, a detailed approach to analytics and a proven ability to develop players at a high level," said Love. "His work ethic and intentionality in recruiting and preparation will make an immediate impact on our program. We're excited to add someone who can connect the dots between evaluation, development and winning."
Nichols has aided in 13 20-plus win seasons across multiple schools, including five-straight seasons at West Virginia (2014-19). He has also helped take a trio of teams to 12 different postseason appearances, highlighted by a Sweet 16 matchup with Kansas in 2012.
"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Alabama," said Nichols. "This is a special place with championship standards, passionate support and a clear vision for success. I'm looking forward to supporting Coach Love, pouring everything I have into our student-athletes and contributing to something special."
Prior to his tenure at SIU, Nichols served as an assistant coach at Wichita State (2019-22), Michigan (2012-14), Kansas (2010-12), Central Florida (2009-10) and Central Florida Community College (2001-02). He spent two stints at West Virginia as an associate head coach (2014-19) and assistant coach (2003-09), where he recruited and developed a total of eight Women's National Basketball Association draft picks.
Chester Nichols Bio
- Spent the last four seasons at Southern Illinois (2022-26), severing as associate head coach
- Aided in the Salukis' four-straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearances
- Helped coach Wichita State to back-to-back quarterfinal games in the American Atlantic Conference Tournament (2019, 2020) while serving as an assistant coach
- Spent two stints at West Virginia (2014-19; 2003-09), ending his tenure as an associate head coach for the Mountaineers
- Played an instrumental role in bringing five top-20 recruiting classes to WVU and the signing of the fourth overall 2021 WNBA draft pick Kysre Gondrezick
- Through both his tenures, the Mountaineers made five NCAA tournaments and five WNIT appearances
- Aided in West Virginia's first Big 12 Conference Tournament title (2017), where the team knocked off the tournament's top three seeds (No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 2 Texas and No. 1 Baylor)
- Recruited and coached a total of eight WNBA draft picks during his time at WVU
- Helped Michigan reach program records for most wins in a season (22) and most consecutive wins (10) during his first season (2012-13)
- Recorded three-straight 20-plus win seasons during his stint with the Wolverines' (2012-14)
- Prior to Michigan, served two seasons at Kansas where he helped KU to a combined 42-26 overall record while making postseason appearances in the WNIT (2011) and NCAA Tournament (2012)
- Coached at Central Florida during the 2009-10 season and led recruiting efforts for the Knights as its recruiting class was recognized nationally as a top 45 group by ESPN's Hoopgurlz
