2/17/2026
Opportunities in Division III volleyball rarely follow a script. For Jack Normandin, the transition from standout player to interim head coach at Nichols unfolded quickly, unexpectedly, and with a sense of responsibility that extends far beyond wins and losses.
Normandin first learned he might step into the role in August 2025, just before the women’s season began, while serving as an assistant coach with that program. What followed was not a long-term succession plan, but a sequence of sudden changes.
Nichols needed leadership. The previous head coach departed midseason for another job. A graduate assistant was elevated to the position, then left in July for another opportunity. The program needed stability. They turned to someone who knew the culture, the roster, and the expectations better than anyone still in the building.
They turned to a player who had just left the court.
“I believe the conversation happened soon after my collegiate career ended because they needed a coach,” Normandin said. “They reached out to me and ultimately decided to move forward and see where it would lead.”
The decision was rooted in familiarity and trust. Normandin had spent two impactful seasons at Nichols after a long collegiate career, and he understood the team dynamic from the inside. His experience as a player, combined with his knowledge of the system and the people, made him a natural bridge between the program’s past success and its next chapter.
Coaching, he admits, is new. Leadership is not.
“I think they felt that since I knew the team so well, along with my personal volleyball experience and knowledge of the game, I could be a good fit for this position,” he said. “Playing for so long and having great experiences in undergrad and graduate school helps me teach the game and how I believe it should be played.”
That philosophy is rooted in the mindset that defined his playing career. Normandin was never the biggest attacker on the floor, but he consistently delivered through effort, athleticism, and belief. Those traits now shape how he approaches the sideline.
“I never cared who was on the other side of the net. I always had the confidence and belief that I could do what I needed to do to help the team,” he said. “If you aren’t doing your best to improve and become the best you can be, you aren’t helping yourself or the team succeed.”
The transition from teammate to head coach has not been seamless. It has required adjustments for everyone involved. Players are stepping into new roles. Normandin is learning how to motivate from a different vantage point.
“The transition has been challenging at times, and it’s a big learning curve for everyone,” he said. “From the sidelines I have to push players to want more from themselves every step of the way. This is a huge season of adaptability and adjusting to change.”
One of the most immediate realities is the void Normandin himself left behind in the lineup. Replacing a key contributor is never easy. Replacing one who now stands on the sideline adds another layer.
His approach is rooted in confidence and detail.
“I focus on teaching the small details of how everything works on the floor and reminding them that they have all the physical tools,” he said. “It’s my job to guide them and their job to trust the process, both physically and mentally, as we work toward a common goal.”
Continuity matters. The Nichols program has built momentum over recent seasons, and Normandin views preserving relationships and standards as essential.
“The biggest priorities are maintaining the positive relationships within the program and continuing the high level of success Nichols has had over the past three seasons,” he said.
His own career prepared him for this moment in ways that go beyond statistics or accolades. Success did not come easily, and that reality shapes how he now teaches the next group of players.
“My experiences gave me confidence that those goals were possible, and that came from past coaches who instilled that belief in me,” he said. “Nothing came easily. I want our players to understand patience and the importance of working hard every day, even when you can’t immediately see the payoff.”
For Normandin, the interim title is less about personal advancement and more about impact. The opportunity represents a chance to influence players in ways that last long after their time on the court ends.
“I hope this opportunity allows me to leave important knowledge and wisdom with these players that they can carry with them after they graduate,” he said. “I played because I loved it. When you do something you love, it gives you the chance to leave a positive impact on others.”
That message extends beyond volleyball. Beyond Nichols. Beyond coaching.
“My story behind the title is about doing something meaningful and leaving a path of inspiration for others,” he said. “Whether you’re a teacher, scientist, or truck driver, it doesn’t matter. If you understand the value of what you do and give your best effort, you can lead others and inspire them to pursue what they love as well.”
The path from player to head coach in a matter of months is rare. The circumstances that created it were unexpected. But for Nichols, the decision reflects something deeper than timing.
It reflects belief… in continuity, in leadership earned through experience, and in the idea that sometimes the best person to guide a program forward is the one who was just fighting for every point on the floor.
And for Jack Normandin, it is simply the next chapter in a life shaped by the game he never stopped loving.
Season Trajectory… Tested Early, Built for March
Nichols sits at 4–8 through the opening stretch of the 2026 season, a record that only tells part of the story.
The Bison scheduled aggressively, and the results reflect it. Losses have come primarily against nationally ranked programs including No. 11 Wentworth, No. 17 St. John Fisher, No. 17 MIT, No. 16 Lasell, and No. 8 Southern Virginia. Those matches exposed the margin between a developing group and established national contenders, but they also provided a measuring stick.
Nichols has shown flashes of what it can become.
There are wins over American International, Rivier, Penn State Behrend, and Mount Union, including multiple five-set battles that revealed resilience and depth. The roster is still settling. Roles are still evolving. But the competitiveness is there.
Most importantly, the NEVC schedule has not yet truly begun.
Conference play will define the season, and Nichols enters that portion of the calendar with a legitimate opportunity to climb. The remaining slate includes matchups with Bard, SUNY Poly, Endicott, Russell Sage, and VTSU-Johnson, along with a pivotal late-season stretch that could shape tournament seeding.
This is where Normandin’s presence becomes more than symbolic.
He understands the roster. He understands the conference. And he understands how quickly momentum can shift once teams settle into their identities.
The early losses came against ranked opponents. The growth is happening internally. The expectation inside the program is not just improvement, but timing that improvement for when it matters most.
By April, the conversation changes.
The NEVC tournament will determine the conference’s NCAA path, and Nichols is still very much in that picture. The pieces are in place. The schedule offers opportunity. The belief remains.
Which leads to the central question of the season…
As the program continues to evolve under a first-year interim head coach who was on the court just months ago… can Jack Normandin guide Nichols through the conference gauntlet and into the championship field?
The answer will unfold over the next six weeks.
