Miami Hurricanes have linebackers coach on board: Derek Nicholson had plenty of success at prior stop

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Charlie Strong was Louisville’s former head coach who served as Miami’s linebackers coach last season. And now, with Strong gone, Miami is going back to a guy who coached linebackers at Louisville last year to land his replacement.

Derek Nicholson, who coached inside linebackers for the Cardinals since 2020 before following Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati this year, will be UM’s linebackers coach this season.

While at Louisville he was instrumental in the development of all-ACC players Dorian Etheridge, C.J Avery, Momo Sanogo and Monty Montgomery, and he was a part of a defensive coaching staff that helped Louisville lead the nation with 50 sacks in 2022 (including 23 sacks and 43 TFL by linebackers, leading the nation).

Prior to Louisville?

Nicholson spent four seasons at Southern Mississippi – two seasons coaching the defensive line and serving as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He spent the 2014 season at the University of Louisville, coaching outside linebackers/defensive ends on a defense that ranked fifth in the country in total defense, led the nation in interceptions, was ninth in total sacks and fourth in rush defense.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., he assisted with a defense that led Conference USA and finished 18th nationally in rushing defense. The Golden Eagles finished third in the league and 37th in the country in total defense in helping the team to an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl.

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.

With Nicholson coaching the linebackers in 2018, the Golden Eagles established themselves with one of the nation’s top defenses, finishing third in total defense, sixth in rushing defense, 11th in passing defense, and 19th in scoring defense. Two of his linebackers, Racheem Boothe and Sherrod Ruff, were named Conference USA honorable mention. 

Before joining the Southern Mississippi staff, Nicholson spent one season tutoring the defensive line at Alcorn State, leading the team to a Southwestern Athletic Conference title and working with a defense that finished fourth in the country in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss. Four of his defensive linemen registered seven or more sacks.

Nicholson worked one season at Akron coaching linebackers in 2013, developing a pair of linebackers that earned first and third team Mid-American Conference honors. It marked the first time since 2010 that Akron placed a first-team linebacker, and the first time since 2001 that the Zips had multiple linebackers on the All-Conference team.

He began his coaching career in 2011, coaching high school football in both North Carolina and Florida.

A standout linebacker at Florida State, Nicholson finished his career with 207 tackles, 25.5 TFL, three sacks and two defensive touchdowns, and was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Watch Lists in 2008.

Nicholson led the Seminoles leading tackler for two consecutive seasons, recording 99 in 2007 and 81 during the 2008 campaign. He recorded 15.5 TFL in one season in 2008 which ranked him tied for 10th in FSU history. He also scored two defensive touchdowns in one season, and finished ranked fourth best all time in one season at FSU as a defender. In 2008, he garnered All-ACC honors and was a member of the All-ACC academic team during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

He earned his undergraduate degree in sport management in just three years in December 2008. He was an undrafted free agent signee by the Atlanta Falcons and played for them in 2009 before a career-ending knee injury.

Now the next chapter of his career is at Miami.