Hank Nichols

Hank Nichols
BornJuly 20, 1936
Niagara Falls, New York
NationalityAmerican
EducationVillanova University (Bachelor's Degree, 1958; Master's Degree)
Duke University (Doctorate)
Basketball career
PositionNCAA Basketball referee
Officiating career1986–2007

Henry O. "Hammerin' Hank" Nichols (born July 20, 1936[1]) is an American college basketball referee and later supervisor of officials. In 2012, he was inducted as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[2] Nichols is also a member of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame, Villanova Athletic Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Athletic Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.[3][4] He officiated 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA)Final Fours, a record 6 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championships, 3 NIT Finals, 2 Olympic Games and 1 European Championships. He was also 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.[3][4][5] Since 2004, he has worked as an Umpire Observer for Major League Baseball.[6]

  1. ^ Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Archived April 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (Access: January 17, 2018).
  2. ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2012". Basketball Hall of Fame. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Hank Nichols". Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. July 23, 2012.
  4. ^ a b David Worlock (August 6, 2007). "Hank Nichols". B/C All-Stars.
  5. ^ Don Glynn (March 4, 2012). "GLYNN: Falls' Hank Nichols nominee for Hall of Fame". Niagara Gazette.
  6. ^ "Umpire Executives". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 26, 2012.