Nickel Repeats as NJCAA DIII National Coach of Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dallas College Eastfield volleyball coach Phil Nickel was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Coach of the Year.

It is the second straight year he's won the award.

"I didn't get into coaching to win awards like that," Nickel said. "I'm a big person that it's all about the kids, but I understand that we had to put the pieces in place and steer the ship in the right direction. It's very rewarding and fulfilling to see all the work and vision that we had worked and paid off, and obviously culminated in something very special."

Nickel guided the wire-to-wire No. 1-ranked Harvester Bees to a second straight national championship, following Dallas Athletic Conference and NJCAA Division III South District titles. Eastfield went 34-1 – its only loss coming to NJCAA Division II No. 1-ranked Cowley County Community College, which also captured its second straight national title.

Nickel's two recruiting classes produced an overall record of 69-1 with two national championships, two district titles and two conference championships.

"Coach Nickel put together not only a team that went 69-1, and won back-to-back national championships over the last two years, and he developed a culture of success where athletes thrive on the court, in the classroom and as members of the community," Eastfield Athletic Director Anthony Fletcher said.

Nickel's team went 10-0 in the DAC for a second straight year. The Harvester Bees also extended their home court winning streak to 26 consecutive matches, dating back to his first season in 2022 after being hired following the beginning of the season. Eastfield went 12-0 on its home court for a second straight year.

"When I brought these kids in, we talked about potentially winning a national championship, and coming in and making a huge impact on the program," Nickel said. "That group of kids obviously did that in more ways than we ever imagined. I don't think we ever imagined going back-to-back and going 69-1 over a two-year period. But that's a testament to those kids, and buying into the system, putting in the work and believing in what we were trying to do."

Nickel's first recruiting class received five All-America honors this season, including three First Team recipients. He was also a repeat DAC Coach of the Year, and also was named one of two American Volleyball Coaches Association Southwest Region Coaches of the Year.

"The coaching was amazing," said sophomore outside hitter Carli Banks, one of the three First Team All-Americans who steered the Bees to the top of the NJCAA Division III volleyball world.

Eastfield ended the season on a 14-match winning streak. The Harvesters went 15-0 in neutral site matches, and swept 29 opponents this season.

"When you go 69-1 over a two-year period, I don't want to say they got bored, but it's hard to stay motivated all the time when a majority of the matches are 3-0," Nickel said. "They were focused for nationals. That was their big goal all year. I think that's what they were waiting for. When we got through the district tournament, it was showtime at that point. They were ready to go, and they showed that at nationals. They put on quite the show at nationals, and, I think, impressed a lot of people."