Westminster College officially dedicated the Westminster Natatorium’s new pool deck in recognition of the late Titan Sports Hall of Famer Gene Nicholson ’69 and his wife, Barb Nicholson M'80, at a ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 8, in Memorial Field House on the College’s campus.

The dedication and naming ceremony of the Gene and Barb Nicholson Pool Deck took place during the Titans’ 1 p.m. swimming and diving meet against Chatham University. The newly installed deck is part of the recent renovations to the natatorium.

Although widely recognized for his 30 years of coaching Titan football at Westminster, Nicholson—who passed away in 2019— served as head coach of the swimming and diving program from 1972-1985, coaching over 20 All-Americans and collecting eight NAIA Top 20 national finishes. He was instrumental in the development of the Westminster Natatorium, a 1975 addition to Memorial Field House.

Nicholson coached more sports—swimming and diving, football, wrestling, track, golf and tennis—for 44 seasons—more than anyone in the history of Titan athletics. In 1994 he was inducted into the Titan Sports Hall of Fame and was a 2002 Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame inductee. After retiring from full-time teaching and coaching in 2007, he continued as men’s golf coach until 2013.

“Coach Nicholson touched the lives of thousands of student-athletes in many sports. His legacy in the sport of swimming will be cemented forever with the naming of the Gene and Barb Nicholson Pool Deck.  I would like to congratulate the Nicholson family on today’s recognition and for the impact Coach had on our campus,” Westminster College Director of Athletics Jason Lener ’95 said during the ceremony.

Also in attendance for Saturday’s dedication were Nicholson’s family—his widow, Barb; son Bob Nicholson and his wife, Sabrina; and daughter Kim (Nicholson) Powell ’94 and her husband, Mark. Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson and Patrick Sheehan ’80, former captain and All-American Titan swimmer under Nicholson, also who shared stories and paid tribute.

The pool deck project was made possible through contributions from alumni and friends including:

• Dr. William Brayer ’75 and Jo Ellen Brayer
• Andrew H. Briggs ’79 and Claudia Briggs
• Dr. Sean Coughlin ’88 and Michele Coughlin
• Kevin Garvey ’77 and Jody Garvey
• Mark Huber ’79
• Robert and Kelly Klamut Jr.
• Greg Linnelli ’81 and Andrea (Burin) Linnelli ’81
• Dr. Myron Luthringer Jr. ’82 and Dr. Debi Luthringer
• James Martin and Marilyn (Marshall) Martin ’53
• Steven Matthew and Christine (Nappi) Matthew ’82
• Greg Nappi ’80
• Robert and Sabrina Nicholson
• Peter Pfaff ’78
• Patrick Sheehan Jr. ’80 and Elaine Sheehan
• Dr. Robert Sheehan Jr.
• Stuart Spisak ’82
• Bruce Tomasello ’86

Saturday’s event also featured the naming of the swimming and diving assistant coach’s office in memory of Titan swimmer Charles Front ’78. Front, who passed away in 2004, was represented by his daughter, Jessica Front. The office naming was made possible through a gift from Front’s former teammate, Sheehan.

While pool renovations to the Westminster Natatorium—home of the Titan swimming and diving program—were completed in September 2024, work is still being completed in the spectator area and coaches’ offices. Naming opportunities are still available for the natatorium’s renovated spaces. For more information, contact Rob Klamut, senior director of charitable relations, at 724-946-7018 or klamutrg@westminster.edu.

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