Volleyball head coach suspended three games

Florida Gulf Coast University’s volleyball team will be without
head coach Dave Nichols for a few games due to a DUI arrest. Nichols will be suspended for three games.

“Obviously I’m really regretful that this situation happened,” Nichols
told the News-Press. “I feel like I’ve let a lot of people down, and I
feel there’s some personal things in my life that I need to attend to.

I love this university and I love working there, and I love the kids
I’m coaching. I feel like I’ve let them all down. I feel like I’ve let
down their families and I’ve down my own family.”
Nichols, 58, was arrested on Sunday morning around at 2:55 near his
home in Bonita Springs.  He was charged with DUI with a blood alcohol
level of higher than .15 or more, which is almost double the state
limit (.08). This was his first offense.  He was released from jail
Sunday morning at 8:55.

Nichols recorded his 350th career victory Saturday as FGCU swept
Stetson in Deland to get to
7-0 in the A-Sun. He told deputies he had been celebrating the
milestone before the arrest, according to the News-Press.

Nichols, who has coached FGCU for five years, served the first game of
his suspension last night in a win against Bethune-Cookman.

“The suspension was tough, but he’ll take care of whatever he has to
take care of and we’ll just move on,” assistant coach Danny Mahy said.

Mahy will be serving as coach while Nichols is suspended. Mahy is in
his seventh season at FGCU.

This comes at a crucial time for FGCU as they go on the road Friday to
face undefeated three-time defending Atlantic Sun Champions Lipscomb.

The third game will be Saturday at Northern Kentucky.

“We’ll prepare for Lipscomb the same way we did for Bethune-Cookman.

Watch video, practice hard and go play a match,” Mahy said.

Athletic director Ken Kavanagh applied the minimum suspension of 10
percent of the season, the same that is used for student-athletes who
are arrested for DUI’s.

“I found out from him. That’s another good thing,” Kavanagh told the
News-Press. “Dave is an outstanding gentleman. Unfortunately people
make mistakes, and there’s different levels of mistakes. And this is
certainly an important one.”
All is not lost, however; Nichols will be allowed to travel with the
team this weekend to provide support, but he will not be permitted to
join the team for on-site practices or matches.

Nichols spoke to the team Monday about his wrongdoings.

“He’s our coach and it is what it is, but regardless, I came to school
here for him and no matter what happens we support each other,”

sophomore Oliva Mesner said.

This weekend without Nichols is tough enough, but without their coach,
FGCU might run into trouble with 7-0 Lipscomb and 5-3 NKU.

“It’s important to let him know that we’re always here for him and
we’re always there for each other regardless of if someone makes a
good or bad decision,” Mesner said.