BYESVILLE − Meadowbrook’s boys basketball program has endured some tough times on the hardwood in recent years since reaching the OHSAA regional finals during the 2021-22 season.
And following the resignation of former head coach Teryn Jarrett at the conclusion of last season, the Colts were left looking for a new leader to turn the program around.
The Rolling Hills School District opted to put their trust in one of their own, by selecting 2010 Meadowbrook graduate Andrew Nichols as its new head boys basketball coach.
Nichols, who returned home four years ago by joining Jarrett’s varsity coaching staff, now gets to realize a full circle moment after now leading the program he once played for.
“To get the opportunity to come back to the place where I started is kind of a full circle moment,” Nichols said. “Not many people get that opportunity to do that. And I’m so appreciative in getting a chance to lead the Meadowbrook boys basketball program.”
Meadowbrook Athletic Director Johnny Jones feels they have the right man for the job of rebooting the Colts boys program back to past years of success.
“We are excited to have Coach Nichols take the reins of our boys program,” Jones said. “Andrew brings great energy and passion for the game, and we believe he will inject new life into the program. He is committed to building strong relationships with our student-athletes.”
“Coach Nichols has a clear vision for helping them grow on and off the basketball court,” Jones continued. “We are looking forward to an exciting new chapter for Colts basketball under his leadership.”
Not Nichols first rodeo … been there, done that in leading boys program
Prior to coming home to join Jarrett’s Meadowbrook coaching staff, Nichols held boys varsity head coaching positions at both Shenandoah High and Newcomerstown High.
And in between those assignments, spent four years as an assistant coach under Jon VanderWal at Marietta College.
“I’ve been a little bit everywhere,” Nichols joked. “I’ve learned different things at each of my stops that I feel has made me ready to make the most of this opportunity. Like at Marietta, I really learned a lot about the game of basketball from Coach VanderWal.”
“I can’t give him enough props for that,” Nichols added. “And I also learned how to structure a program; there is so much more that goes into that than what people on the outside see. All the behind the scene things that you do to make it a place where kids want to be.”
Nichols: Everyone starts with a clean slate
Following consecutive rough seasons with records of 4-19, 1-22 and 1-22, Nichols says everyone in the program will start with a clean slate this season.
“Turning things around really starts with expectations,” Nichols said. “More often than not as an educator, when you set high expectations for kids they will rise to meet those expectations. We have some young talent, some really, really good athletes.”
“It’s about teaching them to play the game of basketball the right way,” Nichols continued. “And also at the same time, plugging them into a system where their skills and athletic ability can be maximized. We have those pieces we need, its about setting them in motion together. And teaching them the right way to get positive results. And we have already set that process in motion.”
Nichols vision for first year not about wins and losses
Nichols has a clear vision of what he hopes to accomplish during year one of leading his hometown Colts’ boys basketball program and it has little to do with the amount of wins and losses on the court.
“At the end of the day and every coach says this…I’m not a big wins and losses guy,” Nichols said. “I’m really not, I know that sounds crazy especially in today’s world. But we are here to invest in our kids, and I’ve made it very clear up front with parents in meetings we have had.”
“Our goal is to help our kids learn to work hard and to understand the game and play the right way,” Nichols said. “So, they can get a taste of glory from success for themselves. You only get to play high school basketball once, four years and in the blink of an eye its gone. So, this is about investing in our kids.”
“At the end of the day, when we get to the end of the year one and look back at it, the only thing I care about is did we help each kid develop to be the best version of themselves with the God given talent they have … that’s it,” Nichols continued. “You do that and the wins and losses take care of themselves.”
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Meadowbrook boys basketball turns to one of its own to lead program
Reporting by Kevin Sutton, Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian / The Daily Jeffersonian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
