Josh Nichols is right back where he was 20 years ago – coaching a high school soccer team for the first time.
The veteran coach traded his Hopkinsville Tiger black and orange as a player in for the Trigg County black and white in 2003 when he was named the Wildcat soccer coach.
In 19 seasons, he went from borrowing players from the girls’ team to fill out his first roster that first year to winning 192 games, 11 district championships, and region runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2012 during his Trigg tenure.
After a season away from coaching, Nichols returns as head coach at University Heights Academy.
There will be no borrowing of players this season as the Blazers are positioned to repeat as district champions and make a run at the region crown.
While UHA has to replace graduating seniors Ethan Hale and Preston Thomas, who accounted for 43 goals from last year’s 14-7 team, they return virtually everyone from a defensive unit that gave up just over two goals a game.
Despite an 0-3 showing at the Bluegrass State Games last month, Nichols liked what he saw in some areas.
“I thought we improved with each game,” he said. “We weren’t where we wanted to be on the scoreboard but the chances were there and I think that will come around.
The Blazers will have some speed up front with juniors Griffin McCoy and Logan Miller, and sophomore Lincoln Hauret.
Sophomore Clayton Lester, junior Matthew Hauret, and Hugh Sisk will be tasked in the midfield with controlling the tempo and finding the feet of teammates.
Junior Lane Bennett, sophomore Ryan Luckey, junior Landon Marchand, and junior Harlow Hampton will work the defense in front of Quinton Quarles in goal. Quarles and Matthew Hauret are the lone seniors on the roster.
“We’re focused on getting our guys in the right spot, fine-tuning some things, and getting in the right formations,” Nichols said of the team’s work leading up to the start of the season.
The Blazers will be the favorites to win the district however they also have All-A aspirations and know a talented Murray squad could await them at the sectional level if both teams are fortunate to advance out of their own regions.
“We are going to work hard every day and not get outworked and be prepared,” Nichols said of the 2023 Blazers. “I feel like if we respect each other and give everything we have every time, it will all fall into place.”
UHA opens the 2023 season with a Monday home match against defending region champion Madisonville-North Hopkins.
Nichols discussed his thoughts on the upcoming season in this YSE interview.
