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Georgia State University

Georgia State University Athletics
 125 Decatur St. Suite 201 Atlanta, GA 30303
Division 1 Georgia Southeast
Public Very Large National competitor
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Angie Nicholson

Angie Nicholson was announced as the head coach of GSU softball in July 2021.


Nicholson came to GSU after five years as the head softball coach at Hampton. Prior to Hampton Nicholson spent three seasons in the same capacity at Eastern Illinois.


A magical start to the 2020 season for the Lady Pirates was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic which unfortunately led into the program not playing the 2021 season. Hampton started 15-4 and had wins over a pair of teams preseason picked to win their conference in DePaul (Big East) and George Washington (Atlantic 10). The team had one senior with the rest being freshmen or sophomores.


In their first season of Big South competition in 2019, the Lady Pirates finished with 23 wins following a 24-win year in her second season, including an 11-7 mark in conference action. Hampton made an impact in the state in her second year, sweeping a doubleheader from ACC-opponent, Virginia.


Facing a daunting schedule with the first 23 games on the road in her inaugural season, Nicholson helped guide the Lady Pirates to a 23-22 overall record and a stellar 17-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division mark to win the division. Four players earned All-MEAC honors and freshman outfielder Taylor Warrick was named to the second team All-State squad by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.


In each of her three seasons at Eastern Illinois, Nicholson led the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. EIU finished in third place overall and second in the West Division during the 2014 campaign, earned a No. 6 seed during the 2015 season and 2016 seasons. Thirteen different Panthers earned postseason accolades under Nicholson's tenure, including five First Team and six Second Team All-OVC honorees.


In 2014, Eastern Illinois won 38 games, and Nicholson went 84-71 in her three seasons.


Prior to coming to EIU, Nicholson was the head coach at Cleveland State for seven seasons, where she helped build the Vikings program into a top team in the Horizon League as she posted a 211-152 mark.


She led Cleveland State to Horizon League regular-season titles in 2008 and 2010, sandwiched around a Horizon League Tournament championship in 2009. The 2009 title was Cleveland State's first as a member of the Horizon League, and the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. The 2008 regular-season title was also the first such title in program history.


Nicholson also coached the Vikings to tournament runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.


Nicholson was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year two times – in 2008 and 2010. In 2010, Cleveland State won a school-record 44 games – including a record 22 games in conference play.


Prior to her time at Cleveland State, Nicholson coached one season at Butler in 2006. She also had one season at NAIA member Ursuline College, where she increased the program's win total from three to 25 in her one season.


She began her coaching career as the head coach at Cuyahoga Community College (2000-04), where she posted 94 wins and made the Region 12 Tournament in three of four seasons. She was the NJCAA Region 12 Coach of the Year in 2004, as her team finished sixth in the nation.


Her collegiate coaching record is 385-293-1.


Nicholson played softball at Cleveland State, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 2000. She was a two-time All-Conference selection as a catcher.

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Rick Nicholson

Richard "Rick" Nicholson was named assistant coach in July 2021.


Nicholson, husband to Angie, served in the same capacity at Hampton for the previous five seasons. While at Hampton, Nicholson helped guide the Pirates to an impressive 15-4 start in 2020 before the season was cut short due to Covid-19.


In his first year at Hampton in 2017, the Pirates went 17-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division to win the division.


Prior to coming to Hampton, Nicholson was a licensed paraprofessional for Mahomet City Schools in Mahomet, Ill. In that role, he aided in the classroom with students of various handicaps and learning disabilities, while also tutoring and mentoring various students – as well as student-athletes.


He spent the 2006-07 academic season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Butler University, where his primary responsibilities included training student-athletes during the offseason, maintaining the weight room facilities, and monitoring student-athletes during workouts.


Nicholson is a 2001 graduate of Cleveland State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and finance. He was on the wrestling team at Cleveland State, serving as team captain and being named an Academic Scholar Athlete Award winner.


Throughout his life, Nicholson has coached in sports such as softball, wrestling, basketball, and soccer – coaching males and females at various ages.

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Lauren Whitten

Head softball coach Angie Nicholson welcomed Lauren Kramer to the Panther Family as the new pitching coach in July 2021.


Prior to GSU, Kramer coached four seasons as pitching coach at Hampton on Nicholson’s staff.


The Pirates were off to an impressive 15-4 start in 2020 prior to the season being halted due to Covid-19. Kramer coached freshman Noelle Doan to a 10-2 record with a 2.49 ERA in 2020.


In 2018 Kramer helped junior pitcher Allyson Babinsack to an All-MEAC Second Team selection after the pitcher won 12 games with a 2.51 ERA.


Prior to Hampton University, Kramer was involved in the Michigan youth softball community, coaching varsity softball at Williamston High School in Williamston, Michigan from 2012-2015. Other coaching experiences include competitive travel ball with the Canton Cannons in 2013 and Detroit Compuware organization in 2014. Kramer also gave private pitching instruction at Turnin2 Michigan out of Brighton and Hit and Pitch out of Owosso.


A standout pitcher for Michigan State University from 2008-2011, Kramer finished her career sixth all-time at MSU for strikeouts (358). As a freshman, Kramer got the victory against No. 8 University of Michigan striking out six and hitting a 2-run homer to win 2-1. In 2010, Kramer threw the school’s 21st no-hitter, becoming the 14th pitcher at MSU to record such a feat. Kramer was also named to 2009 All-Great Lakes Region team.


Kramer graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Packaging Engineering in 2012.

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Alexandra Preston

Alexandra Preston joined the Panther Family as an assistant coach on Angie Nicholson’s staff in August 2023.


A native of Stockton, Calif., Preston comes to GSU after a standout playing career, including three seasons at Fresno State, followed by two years at Alabama State.


She started 102 of the 103 games played in her two-years at Alabama State, ending her career with a .467 slugging percentage. In 2022, Preston led the SWAC with 16 doubles, and then in 2023, she had another strong season with seven homers and 38 RBI, including a multi-homer game in a win over Bethune-Cookman.


Preston earned SWAC Hitter of the Week honors after hitting .308 with two homers and eight RBI in five games.


Prior to Alabama State, Preston played three seasons at Fresno State. During her career as a Bulldog, Preston saw action in 49 games with 30 starts at catcher. She drew 24 walks, recorded 83 putouts and a .989 fielding percentage. She was named Academic All-Mountain West in 2020 and a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete every season at Fresno State.


Preston graduated in May 2023 from Alabama State with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in political science and a minor in psychology. She is now pursuing her master’s in political science at GSU.

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