Girls Basketball: Jason Nichols leaving Montini for Morton College

One of Whitney Holloway's most vivid memories of her time with Jason Nichols at Montini, as random as it sounds, is of the bus rides.

"We had a short bus, he would drive it, and he would always be peeking back at us through the window, making sure we were not goofing around," said Holloway, who starred for two of Nichols' state championship teams and later played at Notre Dame. "We had some good times on that bus."

Nichols and Montini had many good times in his 17 seasons at the Lombard school. Now he's headed for his next stop.

Nichols told his current players on Tuesday that he was leaving as girls basketball coach to take over as the women's coach at Morton College in Cicero.

"Montini has been great, I accomplished a lot, but it's the kids. They made it possible," Nichols said. "One of the toughest things was to tell the parents and kids that I have such good relationships with."

Nichols enjoyed a wildly successful run at Montini since arriving in 2003. He went 521-72, earning four state championships with three straight from 2010-2012. Nichols' Montini teams won 10 state trophies since 2008, his last team placing third in Class 3A in March. Nichols won 15 sectionals, with 14 straight from 2005-2018.

"Girls high school basketball will look different without him," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "His record is unbelievable. When you see the numbers, it's like 'Wow.'

"I think of the Montini Christmas tournament and what it is. You wanted to be there because he got the best. People follow the best, and he is one of the best."

Kateri Stone, who played on the 2011 and 2012 title teams, said Nichols' passion was what stuck out as coach.

"It was not easy playing under him; he pushed us so hard," said Stone, who played collegiately at Colgate and now works in finance in New York City. "He was so motivated and so determined. We were probably the most well-prepared team. That's the first thing I learned is how much he worked for it and how much he loved it. That's why he had such a winning program."

Nichols at Morton will work for former Glenbard South and Riverside-Brookfield athletic director John Treiber, who came aboard as Morton AD in February. Nichols never thought of coaching college as a goal, but Treiber pursued him to consider the idea.

"Me and him get along really good, he gave me a sales pitch and I kind of ran with it. It's as simple as that, there's not much more to it," Nichols said. "He sold me on the fact that you've been at the high school level for a long time, you've accomplished a lot of things, maybe it's time to challenge yourself somewhere else. It's a different level and a different situation. I'm going to miss it, but it's a better opportunity for me and my family."

Former Montini guard Sam Mitchell, now playing at UAB, said there were many emotions upon learning the news of Nichols moving on.

"That [Montini] is our home, and he made it a home for so many of us and he flipped the program completely," Mitchell said. "For me personally, it was really exciting. He has done so much for me personally on and off the court. It was time for all of us to be excited for him, his next journey to change a new program. I think he'll do great. I think he's ready for the next step. I always had a gut feeling that maybe one day he would do it."

Holloway and Stone were likewise excited to hear the news from their former coach in a group chat. Like Mitchell two of the 29 former Lady Broncos that have gone on to play Division I college basketball since 2006, both still enjoy strong friendships with Nichols.

"He deserves this," said Holloway, who now works for the White Sox in corporate partnerships. "All that he's done at Montini, he goes down as one of the greatest coaches. For him to take the next step, it's really great. I think he'll do really great there."

"I was like, 'It's about time coach. I'm happy for you,'" Stone said with a laugh. "He's such a smart coach, I thought it's time he try a new challenge. I think he'll do really great at the next level. He's such a great guy off the court but once it's game time he's locked and loaded."

Nichols leaves the high school ranks with 590 career victories, including 69 in three seasons at Trinity. The Lady Broncos next year will return three of five starters and five of six sophomores from a young 33-5 team that graduated just two seniors.

"I'm leaving that place in a good spot; there is a lot of good players," Nichols said. "It's a new beginning. It was fun there, I'll support the kids and talk to them, it is what it is but it's over."