Hall of Fame
Daryl Nicholson was a starter for three years on the Pasadena College basketball teams of 1965-1968that won 65 games. His career culminated in his senior years when the team started with 17 consecutive victories, went 26-5 and won the NAIA District Three Championship for the coveted trip to play in the national tournament.
Nicholson scored 1,027 points and pulled down 809 rebounds during his career, which still currently ranks eighth in the all-time rebounding category. His strong performances and inspirational style of play were a key factor in leading the Crusaders during these years. He played baseball one year and was a PE major preparing to teach and coach.
Following graduation from Pasadena College in 1968, he enrolled at Cal State LA. Upon receiving his Master’s, he taught kinesiology and exercise physiology in the physical education department and coached cross country and track.
The next year, 1970, Nicholson became a full-time professor and enrolled along with Carroll Land in the Ph.D program at USC. Though Nicholson was coaching in some capacity, he really wanted to coach basketball. When a late summer job opened up at Whittier College coaching freshman basketball, Land helped Nicholson make the move and started to look for a replacement.
“Daryl’s character was exemplary as a player,” said Bill Olin, former teammate. “He worked hard and was a very intelligent player, getting the most out of his considerable abilities, working extremely well with his teammates. Subsequent years have not, in my experience, changed Daryl. His generosity is to be admired, but I am even more impressed with his demeanor. He is an individual who genuinely cares and displays Christ-like qualities of humility and caring for others that Jesus speaks of in the Beatitudes.”
Since his college days, Nicholson has become a very successful business man while always giving himself to his church and alma mater. He and his wife, the former Vicki Bergthold and their two daughters, Stacie and Amy, are all graduates of Point Loma. He has also served on the PLNU Board of Trustees and was Chairman of the PLNU Foundation Board. Nicholson and his wife were the major donors to the building of Nicholson Commons.
The Awards for Meritorious Service and Outstanding Performance by an Athlete were presented to Nicholson by Bob Brower.
