Andrew Nicola named head wrestling coach at Brother Martin

Brother Martin High School is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Andrew Nicola as its head wrestling coach beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

“We are excited to have Andrew Nicola join the Brother Martin community as a faculty member and head wrestling coach”, said Principal Ryan Gallagher ’00. “Andrew inherits a tradition of excellence in our wrestling program, but most importantly, he now joins our school community in continuing the educational tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and the charism of our Founder, Father Andre’ Coindre, all of which has been alive in New Orleans for 150 years. Andrew’s commitment to excellence and to forming young men for life through education are assets that will serve our school well as he leads our young men in the classroom and on the wrestling mat.”

Nicola started his career at Brother Martin as a varsity assistant coach for the Crusader wrestling team in September of 2018. This school year, the wrestling team claimed its 19th overall LHSAA state championship and the seventh title in eight years.

“I have been fortunate to know of the rich tradition that Brother Martin wrestling has had for many years now. Words cannot describe how excited I am to carry on this tradition of excellence that encompasses so much more than just winning wrestling matches. The foundation has been built. Our staff is already diligently working together to take this program to a level it’s never been before, which is no easy feat”, stated Nicola.

Nicola brings to the table knowledge and experience in education, wrestling, athletics, and sports business administration. Prior to coaching at Brother Martin, Nicola has over nine years of high school and college coaching experience serving as the head wrestling coach of Concordia University in Nebraska. In addition, Nicola coached at California Baptist University and Cumberland University. In 2017, Nicola was recognized as Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the NAIA North Region Coach of the Year. In 2012, Nicola was named the Indiana State Wrestling Association (ISAW) Coach of the Year.