Henry O "Hammerin' Hank" Nichols was born on July 20,1936 and is an American college basketball referee and later supervisor of officials.
11 Facts About Hank Nichols
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Hank Nichols officiated 10 National Collegiate Athletic AssociationFinal Fours, a record 6 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championships, 3 NIT Finals, 2 Olympic Games and 1 European Championships.
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Hank Nichols was the first official to work with both the NIT and NCAA Championship Basketball Finals in a single year, and the first National Coordinator of Officials.
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Hank Nichols earned a scholarship to Villanova University, where he played catcher.
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In 1970, Hank Nichols became assistant professor in the Department of Education and Human Services at Villanova, where he would remain for the next 33 years.
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Hank Nichols began officiating varsity games in the ECAC and the ACC.
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In 1974, Hank Nichols worked his first NCAA tournament, the first of 13 in a row.
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That season, Hank Nichols was one of the officials for the 1974 North Carolina State-Maryland ACC championship game.
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Hank Nichols said that game was the best he ever worked, and NC State's David Thompson as the greatest player he officiated.
10.
In 1975, Hank Nichols worked the first of 10 Final Fours, and the first of six national championships.
11.
In 1987, Hank Nichols became the first NCAA coordinator of officials.