Head coach Phil Nickel leaves his position at Dallas College Eastfield to pursue a new job at Navarro College. During his time at Eastfield, he was named the 2023 and 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Associates (AVCA), Two-Year College Coach of the Year winning multiple National Junior College Athletic Associate (NJCAA) Division III National Championships.
During the final season in late 2025, coach Nickel guided the Eastfield Harvester Bees to their third straight national championship appearance leaving a huge positive impact for the volleyball program.
The news was shocking for the team to hear as the coach set a strong foundation for the players and prepared them to play with or without him.
“He gave us tools and I feel like he’s done a lot for this program,” Kira Smith said. “We were lucky to have him.”
When it came to advice the team expressed how coach Nickel was motivating the players to “stay on top of what we have to do” in order to play and build a stronger team. Nickel’s was really big about being one as a team which pushed them to be seen as players. Volleyball is a competitive and aggressive sport but the style of coaching he used helped the team win big.
“We always had pressure on us and that’s controversial because some people don’t like it, but pressure is a privilege,” Caitlyn Coleman said. “I think it pushed us to do better and do the things we did last year.”
As an intentional coach he was strict about the team getting as far as they could making “trust” the key to winning championships under him. Coach Nickel knew ways to push the players to become better and stronger, as the team must continue to thrive without him this coming season nothing will stop the team from playing what they have been taught.
“The foundations have already been laid, the new team and us being the returners, we have to keep following these steps he has put there for us,” Mylah Arzaga said. “I feel like we grew last season. We might have a different coach but it is up to us to say if we want to go that far or even further than we have before.”
It has been said by multiple players that “anybody that helps you grow a lot is gonna leave a big impact.”
Assistant coach Lexus Greschaw has been working with Coach Nickel since 2023 having three full years as his assistant. Greschaw knew the news before anyone but felt more excitement than sadness to his departure.
“I was really excited for him, because I think that he had tremendous success here and I just like seeing people grow,” Greschaw said. “Coach Nickel is one of those people that, wherever he goes, he’s going to make sure that he’s successful.”
As the conversation continued between Coach Nickel and Lexus nothing but positivity was the center of the discussion, during the time of finding out this news Lexus reflected on the time they had together and expressed that “there was so much growth” within herself “as a coach, person, and a leader.”
Based on the team and coach, it has been clear that what makes Coach Nickel stand out was his structure and ability to balance organization while being able to adjust to what the program needs.
As he was very consistent and intentional with conversations, practices, and plans which made coach Lexus learn that “the more discipline and structure you carry as a leader, those skills will showcase in your program and hopefully lead you to success.”
The next step she is willing to take is applying for the head coach position for the harvesters continuing Nickels legacy.
“Eastfield does mean a lot to me personally, so I think it’d be really cool if this was my first college coaching opportunity,” she said. “I think it’d be cool to climb up the ladder to gain this experience.”
Coach Lexus expressed that as her and coach Nickel are very different people they have similar expectations when it comes to standards and reaching goals. She communicated that as a younger female, different energy will be put into running the program. Even if the position does not go to her she is ready to transition the players to a new coach.
The case of Coach Nickel leaving has had people questioning what is next for the harvesters.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations surrounding that,” she said. “I think next season is going to be really different, but I think that sometimes change is exciting and change is good. I’m super excited to see how Eastfield can adapt to this change and grow from it.”
Overall, the team’s patience and understanding is a priority because it is a huge adjustment to a new pace, expectations and leadership.
“I think my vision is for us to see what success looks like and for us to be super confident in that growth,” Greschaw said. “Whether we win a national championship or we just grow as a program, as a unit, as individuals, I think the vision just needs to be that, growing is our priority and whatever that looks like it’s going to be fulfilled in our experience. Winning isn’t everything but as long as you work really hard and you push to grow that everything else will fall into line.”
Regardless of who fills in the positions of head coach it is clear that the team and assistant coach is determined to win by sticking together and doing what works for them in order to win.
