Derek Nicholson joined the Lincoln baseball as the team's assistant coach in the fall of 2026 and is in his first season with the Blue Tigers. He oversees hitting and outfield defense.
A veteran coach with experience at the collegiate, high school, summer league and professional levels, Nicholson most recently served as the hitting coordinator at Santa Barbara City College. He also coached for the Santa Barbara Foresters, helping the program lead the California Collegiate League in nearly every offensive category en route to an NBC World Series championship.
Before returning to the collegiate level, Nicholson spent five years at Peninsula High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, including three seasons as head coach. He also assisted in the development of hitters at Palos Verdes High School. In 2013, Nicholson coached with the Fairbanks Goldpanners and helped lead the club to an Alaska Baseball League championship.
Nicholson began his coaching career at Los Angeles Harbor College, progressing from assistant coach to head coach in 2010. During his two seasons with the program, Nicholson and his staff helped 26 players transfer to four-year institutions, including 16 who continued their careers at the NCAA Division I level.
Following an All-American career at West Torrance High School, Nicholson was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 50th round of the 1994 MLB draft, but instead opted to attend Los Angeles Harbor Junior College. His stellar two seasons there earned him all-league, all-state, and All-American honors, as well as the opportunity to play at the University of Florida. Nicholson was an All-SEC player for the Gators, most notably hitting for the cycle in consecutive SEC series. His extra-inning game-winning hit in the South 1 Regional ended up sending Florida to the 1998 College World Series.
Nicholson was selected by the Houston Astros in the 16th round of the 1998 MLB draft and played professionally for 12 years. After three seasons with Houston's single A club, he was picked by the Detroit Tigers in the Rule 5 Minor League Draft and eventually played at the AAA level. Over the course of his career, Nicholson won championships in the New York-Penn League (1998), the Midwest League (2000), and the Texas League (2006).
He also played internationally in Venezuela during three winter seasons, winning the Venezuelan League Championship in 2001 with Navegantes del Magallanes. Among Nicholson's other professional achievements are earning a spot playing in the Caribbean World Series and competing in the Arizona Fall League.
A resident of Jefferson City, Nicholson is the proud father of two children, Daniel and Madison.
