St. John's University Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- nicholaj@stjohns.edu
- Phone:
- 6003
Jonath Nicholas made his return to the St. John’s women’s basketball bench in June 2012, hired by Coach Joe Tartamella right after he took over the reins of the program. Following the 2017-18 campaign, Nicholas was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the St. John’s’ women’s basketball program.
Nicholas, who spent four seasons at Providence prior to returning to St. John’s, brings over a decade of BIG EAST experience to the Red Storm sidelines. At St. John’s, his responsibilities include recruiting, player development, and opponent scouting.
In his first term with St. John’s, 2004-08, Nicholas helped guide the Red Storm to some of its most successful seasons under the direction of former head coach Kim Barnes Arico, including St. John’s first NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years during the 2005-06 season. The Red Storm qualified for the BIG EAST Conference Tournament during all four of Nicholas’ seasons, earned two WNIT invitations (2005, 2008) and had two 20-win seasons.
During 2005-06, Nicholas helped the Red Storm finish with a 22-8 overall record and saw the team advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 78-68 win over California in State College, Pa. The 2006 Red Storm was bounced from the tournament by the eventual national champion, Maryland.
Over his second term with St. John's (2012-present), Nicholas helped guide the Johnnies to great success under the helm of head coach Tartamella. This includes three trips to the NCAA tournament in just six seasons (2013, 2014 and 2016).
The Brooklyn native has been part of nine postseason runs with St. John's.
During Nicholas time with the organization, the Red Storm has earned four NCAA (2006, 2013, 2014, and 2016) invitations and five trips to the WNIT (2005, 2008, 2015, 2017, and 2018). In addition, Nicholas has helped lift the Johnnies to six 20-win seasons.
Nicholas was largely responsible for the recruitment of some of St. John’s women’s basketball’s greatest names. Upon his return to St. John's in 2012, Nicholas immediately made an impact to the team in recruiting former St. John's standout, Danaejah Grant. The Piscataway, N.J., native was one of four players in program history to be drafted in the WNBA.
He also recruited Da’Shena Stevens, who graduated in May 2012 as the most-decorated Red Storm student-athlete in program history, starting as the 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and ending as the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year and BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award honoree. In between she earned WBCA All-Region accolades twice, All-BIG EAST postseason awards three times and was a Naismith Candidate for three-straight seasons.
Over his duration with the program, Nicholas has helped 19 different players garner postseason BIG EAST awards.
After his first stint at St. John’s, Nicholas spent four years at Providence College, first as an assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach in 2010. With the Friars, he was responsible for game strategy preparation, recruiting, opponent scouting, coaching clinics, scheduling and budget organization. He also served as an ambassador of the Friars’ program with speaking engagements and as a regular guest on the Friars radio show. At Providence, Nicholas helped bring in a top 20 recruiting class in 2010, which included Alicia Cropper, rated No. 32 by ESPN Hoop Gurlz, Lauren Okafor, rated No. 85 by All Star Girls’ Report and an eventual BIG EAST All-Freshman honoree, Tia Wright, who led the BIG EAST in double-doubles in 2011, Miranda Tate, rated No. 45 by All Star Girls’ Report and Rachel Barnes, a WBCA Junior College All-American.
Before making his mark in the BIG EAST, Nicholas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he was responsible for guard development, recruiting and video coordination. Nicholas was responsible for signing former UAB stand-out Carmen Guzman, a four-year starter for the Blazers who went on to earn Conference USA Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the KODAK/WBCA All-America team. Nicholas also recruited Crystal McFadden, another All-Conference USA selection.
Nicholas also served as Associate Head Coach at Southwestern Community College in San Diego, Calif. from 1988-99. While at SCC, he helped develop 10 Junior College All-Americans and 16 student-athletes who went on to play NCAA Division I basketball.
Nicholas also enjoyed a stellar playing career at UAB from 1980-82 under Hall of Famer Gene Bartow. As a junior, he helped his team advance to the NCAA Sweet 16, the first-ever NCAA appearance by the Blazers. The following season, the Blazers posted a 25-6 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. He remains among the top-10 at UAB in free throw percentage and led the Sun Belt Conference in free throw percentage while in Birmingham.
Prior to UAB, he played two seasons at Mesa Community College in San Diego, where he set single-season and single-game scoring records. Nicholas was voted a Junior College All-American and was also named the best “Freshman Performer” by Street & Smith’s.
Nicholas completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Trinity University in 1997. Nicholas and his wife, Roz Ervin, have two sons, Branden and Courtney.
