Angie Nicholson and her husband Rick Nicholson are both out as college softball coaches at UMBC. They were both fired due to allegations of inappropriate conduct after just 18 games, total.
The entire season may be canceled as a result.
Should the Retrievers choose to continue their 2026 college softball season, they would play for an interim head coach that has yet to be announced— but there is only one assistant coach still on the staff. It is now up to the university and athletes whether or not they choose to go forward.
UMBC fired its head coach and her husband for allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Angie Nicholson was hired as the new head coach at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County back in August. She also brought on her husband, Rick Nicholson, as an assistant.
They were fired on Sunday evening after just 18 games in their respective roles.
According to a report from Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun, the Nicholsons were dismissed due to allegations of inappropriate conduct. He spoke with parents of three players on the roster who claim that Rick Nicholson brushed the chest of two different softball players while attempting to swat away insects.
That was on two separate occasions.
“When the second player objected to the contact, Rick Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent. He walked into the dugout and threatened to cut the player, which was overheard and reported by an observer.”
Neither Rick nor Angie Nicholson have released a statement at this time. Nor has UMBC.
The college softball season may or may not continue.
Per Maren Angus-Coombs of Softball on SI, the remainder of the season is now in jeopardy. The ouster of the Nicholsons leaves the program with only one remaining coach. Jill Haines is in her first season with the program after spending last season as an assistant pitching coach at Marymount University.
UMBC canceled mid-week games against Niagara and Mount St. Mary’s last Tuesday and Wednesday as well as its three-game series against Binghamton over the weekend. Nobody knew why. Now we do.
It is unclear as to whether the rest of the season will be played as scheduled. The Retrievers are supposed to play their next game on Saturday but no softball practices have been set for this week.
To make matters worse, the team is split on how to move forward.
Both Kenzie and Taylor Nicholson, the daughters of Rick and Angie Nicholson, are currently on the roster at UMBC. Their mother and father were fired due to allegations of inappropriate conduct. Awkward.
Whether due to a lack of coaches, or a divided locker room, or both, the season is now at risk of being canceled. An official announcement is expected in the coming days.