| Nick Nicolau | |
| Birth Date: | 5 May 1933 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Wareham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1957–1959 |
| Player Team1: | Southern Connecticut |
| Player Positions: | Running back |
| Coach Years1: | 1960 |
| Coach Team1: | Southern Connecticut (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1961 |
| Coach Team2: | Springfield (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1962–1964 |
| Coach Team3: | Bridgeport (assistant) |
| Coach Years4: | 1965–1969 |
| Coach Team4: | Bridgeport |
| Coach Years5: | 1970 |
| Coach Team5: | Massachusetts (RB) |
| Coach Years6: | 1971–1972 |
| Coach Team6: | Connecticut (assistant) |
| Coach Years7: | 1973–1975 |
| Coach Team7: | Kentucky (RB) |
| Coach Years8: | 1976 |
| Coach Team8: | Kent State (assistant) |
| Coach Years9: | 1977 |
| Coach Team9: | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (RB) |
| Coach Years10: | 1978–1979 |
| Coach Team10: | Montreal Alouettes (RB) |
| Coach Years11: | 1980 |
| Coach Team11: | New Orleans Saints (RB) |
| Coach Years12: | 1981 |
| Coach Team12: | Denver Broncos (special assistant) |
| Coach Years13: | 1982–1987 |
| Coach Team13: | Denver Broncos (RB) |
| Coach Years14: | 1988 |
| Coach Team14: | Los Angeles Raiders (WR) |
| Coach Years15: | 1989–1991 |
| Coach Team15: | Buffalo Bills (WR) |
| Coach Years16: | 1992–1994 |
| Coach Team16: | Indianapolis Colts (OC) |
| Coach Years17: | 1995–1996 |
| Coach Team17: | Jacksonville Jaguars (TE) |
| Coach Years18: | 1997–1998 |
| Coach Team18: | San Diego Chargers (AHC) |
| Overall Record: | 24–22 |
| Bowl Record: | 0–1 |
| Championships: | 1 EFC (1969) |
| Awards: | 2× EFC Coach of the Year (1966, 1969) SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame (1995) |
Anthero "Nick" Nicolau (May 5, 1933 – December 6, 2014) was a longtime National Football League (NFL) and college football assistant coach. He graduated from Southern Connecticut State University.[1]
He spent most of the 1960s -'70s coaching at college programs such as Bridgeport (Head Coach), Massachusetts, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Kent State.
Nicolau broke into the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1980 under then head coach Dick Stanfel. He moved on to the Denver Broncos, coaching the running backs from 1981 through 1987. Some of the players he coached included Dave Preston, Sammy Winder, and Steve Sewell.
A dispute ended his tenure in Denver. He landed with the Los Angeles Raiders, but got into a dispute with another assistant coach, Art Shell. Shell was supported by owner and managing partner Al Davis, who fired Nicolau. He then went to the Buffalo Bills and served as their wide receivers coach from 1989 to 1991. There he worked with talents such as Andre Reed and Don Beebe. It was rumored that Nicolau left Buffalo due to a dispute with offensive line coach Tom Bresnahan who became offensive coordinator the next season.
In 1992, he became the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts under head coach Ted Marchibroda with whom he worked in Buffalo. He helped the Colts to a 9–7 record in 1992 and an 8–8 record in 1994. He helped develop Reggie Langhorne as a receiver and worked with quarterback Jeff George as well. In 1994, he helped turn running back Marshall Faulk as a rookie while also working with both Jim Harbaugh and Don Majkowski at quarterback.
Nicolau then spent two seasons coaching the tight ends for the Jacksonville Jaguars, helping to develop Pete Mitchell as a blocker and receiver. In 1997, Jaguars offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride became the head coach of the San Diego Chargers and Nicolau followed him to California. There he served two years as the Chargers assistant head coach before retiring after the 1998 NFL season. He died at age 81, on December 6, 2014.[2]