Former Mississippi State assistant football coach Dave Nichol died Friday, the school confirmed. He was 45.
Nichol spent the past two seasons as the Bulldogs’ inside receivers coach under Mike Leach. He left in December to take the same position at USC under Lincoln Riley, with whom he worked at Texas Tech.
Leach said in a statement posted to social media Friday that Nichol died after “a sudden battle with a number of health issues.” Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports said Nichol had been battling cancer.
“Dave is gone way too soon,” Leach said. “We have lost an amazing friend, coach and all-around great guy.”
Nichol spent 2016-19 at Washington State under Leach after spending 2012-15 at East Carolina. He also coached at Arizona and Baylor in addition to coaching on Leach’s initial staff at Texas Tech.
Nichol coached with the Red Raiders from 2000-2001 and again from 2003-2005.
“Dave was family to us, and he was loved by all who knew him,” Leach said. “He meant a lot to me as well as countless others, and I will forever be grateful to have had him in my life for the last 22 years.”
Mississippi State players took to social media to mourn Nichol’s death Friday. Washington State transfer receiver Jamire Calvin said he knew Nichol in high school and was coached by him in every season but 2020.
“Was a great man, taught me a lot about myself,” Calvin said. “God rest his soul.”
Quarterback Will Rogers worked alongside Nichol over the past two seasons in Starkville.
“From getting to know you as a recruit to getting to lay it on the line with you every Saturday, I appreciate everything you have taught me,” Rogers tweeted Friday. “Rest easy Coach Nichol. See you again someday.”
“Man my heart is heavy today,” wide receiver Austin Williams said. “Coach Nichol was a heckuva coach who challenged us and pushed us everyday to be the best we could be. I know he’s impacted every player he’s coached, and I’m honored to be one of them.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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