| Derek Nicholson | |
| Current Title: | Linebackers coach |
| Current Team: | Miami (FL) |
| Current Conference: | ACC |
| Birth Date: | November 30, 1986 |
| Birth Place: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Florida State |
| Player Years1: | 2006–2009 |
| Player Team1: | Florida State |
| Player Years2: | 2009 |
| Player Team2: | Atlanta Falcons |
| Player Years3: | 2010* |
| Player Team3: | Seattle Seahawks |
| Player Positions: | Linebacker |
| Coach Years1: | 2013 |
| Coach Team1: | Akron (LB) |
| Coach Years2: | 2014 |
| Coach Team2: | Louisville (OLB/DE) |
| Coach Years3: | 2015 |
| Coach Team3: | Alcorn State (DL) |
| Coach Years4: | 2016–2017 |
| Coach Team4: | Southern Miss (DL) |
| Coach Years5: | 2018–2019 |
| Coach Team5: | Southern Miss (co-DC/LB) |
| Coach Years6: | 2020–2022 |
| Coach Team6: | Louisville (ILB) |
| Coach Years7: | 2023 |
| Coach Team7: | Miami (FL) (LB) |
| Coach Years8: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team8: | Miami (FL) (co-DC/LB) |
Derek Nicholson (born November 30, 1986) is the inside linebackers coach at Miami (FL) and a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Florida State Seminoles Football and previously coached at Southern Miss and Louisville.
A two-year starter at middle linebacker for the Seminoles, Nicholson led Florida State in tackles during his junior and senior season.[1] In 2008 Nicholson was named to the Butkus Award and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Nicholson finished his college career with 207 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns.[2]
After not being selected in the 2009 NFL draft, Nicholson was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and participated in their mini-camp.[3]
Nicholson began his coaching career in the high school football ranks in North Carolina and Florida before moving onto the college coaching ranks. Nicholson spent 4 seasons at Southern Miss before returning to coach at Louisville, where he had coached in 2014.[4]
Nicholson would follow Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati after the 2022 season.[5] However, in February 2023 Nicholson would be named the linebacker coach at Miami (FL) after Charlie Strong vacated the position.[6]
Nicholson attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Nicholson's older brother A. J. Nicholson played for the Cincinnati Bengals and his father Darrell Nicholson played for the New York Giants.