TROY, N.Y. — The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey program has announced the hiring of Matt Nicholson as an assistant coach.

Nicholson joins RPI after spending the 2025-26 season on the staff at Bowling Green State University. His coaching career includes multiple stops at the Division I level, as well as head coaching experience in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

"Matt has an incredible track record of developing players, programs, and people. He is an all-world human being, first and foremost," said RPI head coach Eric Lang. "Anywhere Matt has been, he has left the program better than he found it. He's a winner with a proven ability to recruit and elevate programs, especially during times of transition. We are incredibly fortunate to have a coach with his level of experience."

A native of London, Ontario, Nicholson began his collegiate coaching career at Robert Morris University in 2009, serving as an assistant coach for six seasons. During his first stint with the Colonials, Nicholson helped Robert Morris capture the 2014 Atlantic Hockey Tournament Championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Nicholson moved into the head coaching ranks in 2015 when he was named head coach of the Amarillo Bulls of the NAHL. After two seasons in Amarillo, he returned to NCAA Division I hockey as an assistant coach at Niagara University in 2017, remaining with the Purple Eagles through 2020.

Prior to the 2021-22 season, Nicholson joined the coaching staff at Mercyhurst University, continuing his work within Atlantic Hockey. After one season with the Lakers, he returned to Robert Morris, where he helped the program through its return to NCAA competition and remained with the Colonials until joining Bowling Green in the summer of 2025.

Nicholson's familiarity with ECAC Hockey also extends to his playing career, as he appeared in 123 games a defenseman at Colgate University from 2000-04.