Hank Nichols ('54) played four years of baseball at Villanova and was the team MVP, but will be joining Reggie Miller, Don Nelson, and Ralph Sampson in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when the next class is inducted in September.
Nichols will be inducted for excellence throughout his career as a college referee. A career that saw him officiate in 10 Final Fours, including six National Championship games as well as as three NIT Championships and two Olympics.
After serving his country and playing the Cincinatti Reds minor league organization, Nichols returned to Villanova to get his Masters degree and, later, his doctorate from Duke. He was the "NCAA National Officiating Coordinator of Men’s Basketball" for 20 years as well as the Chair for Villanova's Education & Human Services Department.
Nichols joins Paul Arizin as the Villanovans represented in the Naismith Hall of Fame.