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Brother Martin High School is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Andrew Nicola as its head wrestling coach beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

“We are excited to have Andrew Nicola join the Brother Martin community as a faculty member and head wrestling coach”, said Principal Ryan Gallagher. “Andrew inherits a tradition of excellence in our wrestling program, but most importantly, he now joins our school community in continuing the educational tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and the charisma of our Founder, Father Andre’ Coindre, all of which has been alive in New Orleans for 150 years. Andrew’s commitment to excellence and to forming young men for life through education are assets that will serve our school well as he leads our young men in the classroom and on the wrestling mat.”   Nicola started his career at Brother Martin as a varsity assistant coach for the Crusader wrestling team in September of 2018. This school year, the wrestling team claimed its 19th overall LHSAA state championship and the seventh title in eight years.

“I have been fortunate to know of the rich tradition that Brother Martin wrestling has had for many years now. Words cannot describe how excited I am to carry on this tradition of excellence that encompasses so much more than just winning wrestling matches. The foundation has been built. Our staff is already diligently working together to take this program to a level it’s never been before, which is no easy feat”, stated Nicola.  

Nicola brings to the table knowledge and experience in education, wrestling, athletics, and sports business administration. Prior to coaching at Brother Martin, Nicola has over nine years of high school and college coaching experience serving as the head wrestling coach of Concordia University in Nebraska. In addition, Nicola coached at California Baptist University and Cumberland University. In 2017, Nicola was recognized as Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the NAIA North Region Coach of the Year. In 2012, Nicola was named the Indiana State Wrestling Association (ISAW) Coach of the Year.

Over the years, Nicola has coached an abundance of scholar-athletes, 7 NCAA National Qualifiers, and 16 NCAA Academic All-Americans. In addition, Nicola has coached 33 NAIA National Qualifiers and ten who have earned All-American honors, including current wrestling assistant Coach Jake Williams and Brother Martin alumnus Kyle Delaune ‘13. Nicola also coached former Crusader Ross Brister ‘13 at Cumberland. Nicola was also a member of the coaching staff for the 2013 Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Originally from Fort Wayne, IN, Nicola is a USAW Silver Certified coach who holds the titles of the 2017 69kg Master's National Championship in freestyle and Greco wrestling. In 2018, he captured the 70kg Master's National Championship in Freestyle and Greco wrestling.

Nicola holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Biology from Indiana University, a Master's of Science in Athletic and Sports Business Administration from the University of Central Missouri, and a Master's of Arts in Education from Cumberland University. Currently, Nicola is pursuing a Master's of Arts in Coach and High School Athletics Administration from Concordia University.

Nicola stated, “I am grateful and appreciative of President Greg Rando ‘77, Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00, and Athletics Director Mark Wisniewski ‘81 for trusting and believing in my abilities to help educate, coach, and mentor our young students and athletes. The Brother Martin family has welcomed me with open arms and I am eager to contribute with my passion for teaching and coaching alongside them all.”

Megan Siebenkittel Whalen

Community Relations Director

Brother Martin High School | Advancement Office

4401 Elysian Fields Avenue | New Orleans, LA  70122

504.284.6700 Office

504.284.5888 Fax

Celebrating 50 years of Brother Martin High School and
150 years of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans.

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