Nick Nichay has announced that he is stepping down as the head coach of the Franklin & Marshall men’s basketball program to pursue a Division I coaching opportunity at Dartmouth University. Nichay spent seven seasons as the Diplomats’ head coach following seven seasons as an assistant under Hall of Fame head coach Glenn Robinson.

“After 14 incredible years, I have made a difficult decision to step down from my position at Franklin & Marshall to pursue a new opportunity,” said Nichay. “F&M is a place that I am truly grateful for and the impact it has had on my life. The relationships that I have forged will always stay with me, and I have great pride in how I have been able to play a small part in building upon the legacy of F&M Men’s Basketball.”

Under Nichay’s leadership, the Diplomats returned to national prominence with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances the past two seasons. This run was highlighted by a Centennial Conference Championship during the 2024-25 campaign. That season, the Diplomats earned home-court advantage in that tournament after an 11-2 conference record throughout the regular season before taking home the conference trophy with a 60-47 win versus Johns Hopkins inside the Mayser Center.

During Nichay’s seven seasons as head coach, the Diplomats won 96 games, including three consecutive 20-win seasons. They have qualified for the Centennial Conference Tournament in each of the past four seasons and have won nearly eighty percent of their conference games with a 35-9 Centennial record during the past three years.

Nichay first joined the Diplomats as an assistant coach on Robinson’s staff during the 2012-13 season. During his time as an assistant coach, Nichay helped guide the team to a 134-54 record, making him a part of 230 cumulative victories during his time on the F&M sidelines. The team’s success during that stretch includes 11 Centennial Conference Tournament appearances, two Centennial Conference Championships, and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Beyond the court, Nichay prioritized academic success. The program was a frequent recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award recipient. Nichay mentored three All-Americans, three Centennial Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and three Academic All-Americans among his 30 All-Centennial Conference honorees. Two of his standout players, Brandon Federici ’18 and Kevin Nowoswiat ’26, were named finalists for the Jostens Trophy, honoring excellence in basketball, academics, and community service.

“Coach Robinson took a chance on a young assistant coach that was just beginning his coaching journey. His belief in me and mentorship over the years changed my life. I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to join this special community of players, coaches, and alumni that have shaped my personal and professional growth. To all of the players that I have been fortunate to coach – I have enjoyed every minute of being your coach and working together to build something special.”

“To all of the alumni, families, and friends of F&M Basketball – I can’t thank you enough for all of your support over the years and the role it has played in our success. It’s the people and community that separate F&M from other high academic Division III programs.”

https://godiplomats.com/news/2026/4/23/nick-nichay-stepping-down-as-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx