Nichols steps down as Presbyterian coach

(STATS) - Presbyterian football coach Harold Nichols resigned after a 2-9 season on Sunday.

Nichols, 48, was 19-67 in eight seasons at the Big South Conference school, his alma mater.

Presbyterian announced Nichols and athletic director Brian Reece met Sunday to discuss the future of the program and decided a change in leadership was in the best interest of the program.

"Coach Nichols did an outstanding job," Reese said. "His work has laid a solid foundation for future success in our football program. He was a very stabilizing factor during our transition to Division I and leaves the program in a far better place than when he arrived."

Nichols' tenure was highlighted by the 2014 season, when Presbyterian was 6-5 (3-2 Big South) and he was named the conference's co-coach of the year. It was the program's first winning season since 2007.