Damon Nichols has been an assistant coach for Baldwin this season. (Star photo/John Raffel)
BALDWIN - Damon Nichols recalls his athletic days at Baldwin very fondly, and rightfully so.
Nichols graduated in 2015 and played on championship teams in football and basketball.
His 2014 football squad went to the regional final. He was a wide receiver and defensive back.
He's using his athletic expertise to share with current Baldwin football players as a defensive coordinator for the varsity team and a member of the junior high coaching staff.
"I went to a practice one day to see how they were doing," Nichols recalled.
He talked with coach Bob Watkins and eventually joined the coaching staff. He works with another former player, Maverick Fisher, on the junior high coaching staff.
The third junior high game was set for Wednesday of this week.
The Panthers lost their first two games to Marion and Brethren."
"We're pretty solid now," Nichols said. "We're pretty strong. We have good athletes on both sides of the ball."
The numbers are solid. Baldwin has around 23 players on the junior high team.
The varsity team has been fighting inconsistent numbers and inexperience and has a 1-4 record.
"We're trying to see these kids have that passion for football again," Nichols said. "Baldwin football has been down, this has been a positive season. We've putting points on the board."
This is Nichols' first season in coaching, but he'd like to continue in some capacity once this season ends.
"I'll try to keep moving up," he said.
Nichols' teams broke various school football .
"I know what it takes to get there," he said.
Fisher has been a line coach with the varsity.
"We work together as a strong duo," he said
