Troy Nickerson, head wrestling coach at the University of Northern Colorado for more than a decade, is leaving to be the new head coach at Army West Point.
The UNC and West Point athletic departments made the announcement Monday morning, and the hire was also a topic of conversation on wrestling social media.
Nickerson, who is from upstate New York and was an NCAA champion at Cornell, coached for 11 years at UNC in his first head coach job.
Earl Hall, an assistant with the Bears since 2021, is UNC’s interim head coach while the university launches a national search, according to a release from the athletic department.
University of Northern Colorado head wrestling coach Troy Nickerson watches his team practice on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Greeley.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)“Troy has been an outstanding coach for the Bears and he has left the program in a great place,” UNC athletic director Darren Dunn said in the release. “We are beginning the search for our next head coach who will continue to elevate our wrestling program and inspire our student-athletes to succeed at the highest level.”
Nickerson’s last year in Greeley might have been the best for the program, a stint that included overseeing the Bears’ transition to the Big 12 Conference. Four UNC wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including Windsor High School graduate Dom Serrano and Greeley’s Andrew Alirez, a national champion in 2023.
All four guys earned top 10 seeds for the tournament in Philadelphia, and Stevo Poulin and Vincent Zerban were named All-Americans with top eight finishes. Both wrestlers also won Big 12 Conference championships.
Nickerson coached six All-Americans at UNC and 37 NCAA championship qualifiers. The Bears were also strong in the classroom with 34 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans and 70 Big 12 Conference academic selections, according to a news release from West Point.
“It’s an incredible honor to lead a program with the history and tradition of Army Wrestling,” Nickerson said in a West Point news release. “The opportunity to develop leaders of character while competing for championships is truly special. I look forward to building strong relationships with our cadet-athletes, alumni and the broader Army community.”
Alirez, who was a prized recruit for Nickerson and UNC coming out of Greeley Central in 2019 as a 4-time high state champion, said Monday morning he probably wouldn’t have attended UNC if Nickerson wasn’t the head coach.
University of Northern Colorado wrestler Andrew Alirez hugs head coach Troy Nickerson during a ceremony to honor seniors while at the Bank of Colorado Arena on Sunday Feb. 23, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)“It’s kind of how it goes,” Alirez said of the coaching change Monday morning. “I”m forever grateful to Troy being here, and he turned this program around. I wouldn’t be where I am without Troy. You have to appreciate the times you have people in your life. Nothing is permanent. You have to wish him the best.”
Alirez, who is recovering from a shoulder operation several weeks ago, was highly complimentary of Hall and the coach’s contribution to the program.
“We have a great coaching staff, and Earl does an amazing job,” Alirez said. “He’s fit for the job, and we’ll have to see (about a successor for Nickerson). I’m sitting back and waiting as well. I trust this program will be led in the correct direction.”
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