Derek Nicholson

Assistant Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers · Missouri

Headline rating: as position coach · linebackers. Every role he has been rated in is below.

Chemistry

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index in development

Seasons here2

Programs4

Stints5

Career path

Head-coaching stints since 1936; assistant roles since 2016

2025–2026MissouriAssistant Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

2023–2024MiamiCo-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach

2020–2022LouisvilleAssistant Coach/Inside Linebackers

2018–2019Southern MissCo-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

2016–2017Southern MissAssistant Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

Rating69Peak76

His defense against its preseason projection (value over expectation) and the unit's opponent-adjusted quality.

Season	Team	Unit (EPA/play)	Over expectation	Season score
2019	Southern Miss	-0.01	-0.06	-0.57
2018	Southern Miss	0.08	0.07	1.06

Season score: 0 = an average season in this role; positive = better.

Rating82Peak89

Room quality, development (his players gaining more than typical players at the position year to year) and recruiting credit.

Season	Team	Room	Room quality	Development	Recruiting	Season score
2025	Missouri	Linebackers	79	+1.0	0.898	0.67
2024	Miami	Linebackers	78	-4.5	0.900	0.22
2023	Miami	Linebackers	80	+4.0	0.944	1.21
2022	Louisville	Linebackers	88	+3.4	0.896	1.37
2021	Louisville	Linebackers	79	+4.6	—	0.57
2020	Louisville	Linebackers	76	+2.8	0.861	0.32
2019	Southern Miss	Linebackers	79	-2.7	0.823	-0.09
2018	Southern Miss	Linebackers	78	+0.3	0.811	-0.02
2017	Southern Miss	Linebackers	77	+3.2	0.814	0.17
2016	Southern Miss	Defensive line	79	—	0.797	0.01

Season score: 0 = an average season in this role; positive = better.