Ty Nichols

Biography

Ty Nichols joined the North Carolina coaching staff in January 2025 and serves as the outside linebackers coach for the program. He comes to UNC following three seasons at the University of Arizona, where he was an analyst for a season and a defensive graduate assistant for two seasons. He worked primarily with the Wildcats' defensive line and linebackers. Under his guidance, Arizona defensive lineman Tre Smith ranked 15th in the Big 12 Conference in sacks with 4.5. Smith finished the 2024 season with 53 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. In his second season with the Wildcats, Nichols helped the 2023 UA defense finish fifth nationally in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.300). Arizona won 10 games that season and defeated No. 12 Oklahoma, 38-24, in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Arizona’s 2023 squad led the league in red zone defense (.760), as opponents had their drive end with zero points 12 times and were held to a field goal 10 times. The Wildcats’ defense held opposing teams to 25 points or fewer in nine of their 13 games. The defense also recovered 10 fumbles to rank 16th in the nation and second in the Pac-12 Conference. Prior to coaching in Tucson, Nichols coached at Idalou High School in Texas for one season, where he was a standout for the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. Nichols spent three years on the football staff at Texas Tech from 2019-21, helping lead the Red Raiders to a 34-7 bowl game victory against Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl. He gr