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O'Dowd Athletics

Coaching Career

Hardy Nickerson Sr. has an impressive coaching background spanning various levels of football. He started his coaching career as the linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears in the NFL from 2007 to 2008. He then transitioned to a head coaching role at Bishop O'Dowd High School from 2010 to 2013. In 2014, Nickerson returned to the NFL as the linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he remained until 2016. He then made the move to the collegiate level, joining the University of Illinois as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018. Following his stint at Illinois, Nickerson returned to Bishop O'Dowd High School, resuming his position as head coach in 2022 and continues to lead the program to the present day. As a player, Nickerson had a remarkable career. He attended the University of California at Berkeley before playing 16 seasons in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Green Bay Packers. Nickerson's impressive accomplishments include five Pro Bowl selections and being named All-Pro four times, with two first-team and two second-team honors. These achievements highlight his exceptional playing career and provide a solid foundation for his coaching expertise.

Why O'Dowd?

I enjoy seeing young people maximize their potential.