Army West Point Athletics
Staff Directory
Troy Nickerson
- Title:
- Class of 1972 Head Men’s Wrestling Coach
On June 9, 2025, Army West Point Director of Athletics Tom Theodorakis announced the hiring of Troy Nickerson as the Class of 1972 Head Men’s Wrestling Coach.
In his first season at the helm of the Black Knights in 2025-26, Nickerson led the team to a 5-5 dual record on a schedule which featured three duals vs. Big Ten Conference opponents, and another two vs. other ranked opponents. Army finished 5-1 in EIWA duals, including a signature 19-18 win in the Star Dual at Navy secured by a 2-0 decision by Brady Colbert at heavyweight in the final bout. Army’s win of Navy was its third in a row and eighth over the past 12 years.
Nine Army wrestlers made the podium at the EIWA Championships in 2025-26, with Ethan Berginc (133 lbs), Gunner Filipowicz (165 lbs) and Brady Colbert (285 lbs) earning automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, held in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, Braden Basile (141 lbs) made the NCAA Championships as an at-large.
Berginc’s trip to the NCAAs under Nickerson was his fourth—becoming just the fifth four-time qualifier in program history. Berginc also finished as EIWA runner-up in his senior season.
Berginc and Colbert each recorded wins at the NCAA Championships, with Colbert picking up a first round championship bracket victory and going 2-2 overall at the event.
During the regular season, Colbert and Filipowicz each won EIWA Wrestler of the Week accolades. Filipowicz also earned his third trip to the Southern Scuffle finals on January 4, as Army sent six to the podium at the signature mid-season event in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Army finished third as a team at the annual Black Knight Invitational on November 23, with Basile earning the tournament championship 141 lbs. Additionally, Nickerson helped spearhead the hosting process for the 2025 Black Knight Open on November 16, as Army won four of the individual titles.
Nickerson joined the Black Knights after 11 seasons at the helm at Northern Colorado, where he transformed the Bears into a consistent Top 25 program on the mat and in the classroom. He also oversaw the program’s transition into the Big 12 Conference in 2015.
In 2023, before coming to Army, Nickerson guided Northern Colorado wrestler Andrew Alirez to the NCAA 141-pound National Championship and a perfect 28-0 record. Alirez’s win marked the university’s first as an NCAA Division I institution in any sport. Alirez won Big 12 Wrestler of the Year honors that season and was a finalist for the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded to the top wrestler in the country and widely considered the Heisman Trophy of college wrestling.
In 2024-25, his final season at Northern Colorado, Nickerson coached six wrestlers to the podium at the Big 12 Championships and sent four to the NCAA Championships, with Stevo Poulin (125 lbs.) and Vinny Zerban (157 lbs.) both earning All-America honors.
Over his time in Greeley, Nickerson guided six All-Americans and 37 NCAA Championship qualifiers. His teams also excelled academically, producing 34 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans and 70 Academic All-Big 12 selections.
Prior to his time at Northern Colorado, Nickerson served as an assistant coach at Iowa State under Kevin Jackson and as co-head coach of the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club in Ithaca, N.Y.
A 2010 graduate of Cornell University, Nickerson was a standout for the Big Red from 2006–10, earning four NCAA All-America honors and capturing the 2009 NCAA Championship at 125 pounds with an undefeated 25-0 season. He was also a three-time EIWA champion and a five-time New York state champion at Chenango Forks High School, becoming the first to achieve that feat. Nickerson and his wife, Allie, are the proud parents of two sons, Gavin and Asher.
The Class of 1972, through a class gift and individual contributions endowed the head wrestling coach position in 2024. The fund supports the holistic development of Army Wrestling cadet-athletes.
Personal
Coaching Career
What they are saying about Nickerson
“On behalf of the NWCA, I want to congratulate Coach Troy Nickerson on his appointment as the head wrestling coach at Army West Point. Coach Nickerson has served our organization with distinction as NWCA President, and his leadership has been instrumental in advancing the mission of strengthening and growing the sport at all levels. Army West Point is gaining not only a world-class coach but a tireless advocate for student-athletes and the sport of wrestling. We wish him the very best as he takes on this important new role.”
— Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association
“As an alumnus, I could not be more excited to welcome Troy as our new head coach. Kevin Ward leaves behind a legacy of success and momentum, and I have full confidence that Troy will build on that foundation while pushing the program to even greater heights. I’ve known Troy for a long time and trained and competed with him in international tournaments. His competitive drive and leadership align perfectly with our warrior ethos. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. I am proud to welcome him to the Army Wrestling Family!”
— Phillip Simpson, Hall of Fame class of 2023, USMA ‘05 grad. Army’s only three-time All-American as well as Army’s only three-time EIWA Champion. 2005 AAA Award Winner
In his first season at the helm of the Black Knights in 2025-26, Nickerson led the team to a 5-5 dual record on a schedule which featured three duals vs. Big Ten Conference opponents, and another two vs. other ranked opponents. Army finished 5-1 in EIWA duals, including a signature 19-18 win in the Star Dual at Navy secured by a 2-0 decision by Brady Colbert at heavyweight in the final bout. Army’s win of Navy was its third in a row and eighth over the past 12 years.
Nine Army wrestlers made the podium at the EIWA Championships in 2025-26, with Ethan Berginc (133 lbs), Gunner Filipowicz (165 lbs) and Brady Colbert (285 lbs) earning automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, held in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, Braden Basile (141 lbs) made the NCAA Championships as an at-large.
Berginc’s trip to the NCAAs under Nickerson was his fourth—becoming just the fifth four-time qualifier in program history. Berginc also finished as EIWA runner-up in his senior season.
Berginc and Colbert each recorded wins at the NCAA Championships, with Colbert picking up a first round championship bracket victory and going 2-2 overall at the event.
During the regular season, Colbert and Filipowicz each won EIWA Wrestler of the Week accolades. Filipowicz also earned his third trip to the Southern Scuffle finals on January 4, as Army sent six to the podium at the signature mid-season event in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Army finished third as a team at the annual Black Knight Invitational on November 23, with Basile earning the tournament championship 141 lbs. Additionally, Nickerson helped spearhead the hosting process for the 2025 Black Knight Open on November 16, as Army won four of the individual titles.
Nickerson joined the Black Knights after 11 seasons at the helm at Northern Colorado, where he transformed the Bears into a consistent Top 25 program on the mat and in the classroom. He also oversaw the program’s transition into the Big 12 Conference in 2015.
In 2023, before coming to Army, Nickerson guided Northern Colorado wrestler Andrew Alirez to the NCAA 141-pound National Championship and a perfect 28-0 record. Alirez’s win marked the university’s first as an NCAA Division I institution in any sport. Alirez won Big 12 Wrestler of the Year honors that season and was a finalist for the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded to the top wrestler in the country and widely considered the Heisman Trophy of college wrestling.
In 2024-25, his final season at Northern Colorado, Nickerson coached six wrestlers to the podium at the Big 12 Championships and sent four to the NCAA Championships, with Stevo Poulin (125 lbs.) and Vinny Zerban (157 lbs.) both earning All-America honors.
Over his time in Greeley, Nickerson guided six All-Americans and 37 NCAA Championship qualifiers. His teams also excelled academically, producing 34 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans and 70 Academic All-Big 12 selections.
Prior to his time at Northern Colorado, Nickerson served as an assistant coach at Iowa State under Kevin Jackson and as co-head coach of the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club in Ithaca, N.Y.
A 2010 graduate of Cornell University, Nickerson was a standout for the Big Red from 2006–10, earning four NCAA All-America honors and capturing the 2009 NCAA Championship at 125 pounds with an undefeated 25-0 season. He was also a three-time EIWA champion and a five-time New York state champion at Chenango Forks High School, becoming the first to achieve that feat. Nickerson and his wife, Allie, are the proud parents of two sons, Gavin and Asher.
The Class of 1972, through a class gift and individual contributions endowed the head wrestling coach position in 2024. The fund supports the holistic development of Army Wrestling cadet-athletes.
Personal
- Hometown: Chenango Forks, N.Y.
- College: Cornell University, 2010
Coaching Career
- 2014–25: Northern Colorado (Head Coach)
- 2012–14: Iowa State (Assistant Coach)
- 2011–12: Finger Lakes Wrestling Club (Co-Head Coach)
What they are saying about Nickerson
“On behalf of the NWCA, I want to congratulate Coach Troy Nickerson on his appointment as the head wrestling coach at Army West Point. Coach Nickerson has served our organization with distinction as NWCA President, and his leadership has been instrumental in advancing the mission of strengthening and growing the sport at all levels. Army West Point is gaining not only a world-class coach but a tireless advocate for student-athletes and the sport of wrestling. We wish him the very best as he takes on this important new role.”
— Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association
“As an alumnus, I could not be more excited to welcome Troy as our new head coach. Kevin Ward leaves behind a legacy of success and momentum, and I have full confidence that Troy will build on that foundation while pushing the program to even greater heights. I’ve known Troy for a long time and trained and competed with him in international tournaments. His competitive drive and leadership align perfectly with our warrior ethos. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. I am proud to welcome him to the Army Wrestling Family!”
— Phillip Simpson, Hall of Fame class of 2023, USMA ‘05 grad. Army’s only three-time All-American as well as Army’s only three-time EIWA Champion. 2005 AAA Award Winner
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