Nichols, Voll to enter Ohio hall of fame

10/19/2009

Bob Nichols, the legendary University of Toledo men's coach, and Fran Voll, who built dominant women's programs in northwest Ohio at both the high school and college levels, are among 17 men and women who will make up the 2010 induction class in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nichols, 79, posted winning records in 20 of his 22 seasons at UT, where he became the winningest coach in Mid-American Conference history with a record of 376-212.

His Rockets won five MAC championships and played in three NCAA tournaments. His 1968-69 squad advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.

Nichols also coached for seven years and won 111 games at Central Catholic High School.

Voll, 65, made his mark first at the high school level, leading the girls team at Delphos St. John to a 208-17 record and three state championships in nine seasons. He had undefeated state title teams in 1977 and '79.

Voll became head coach at Bowling Green State University and built the Falcons into the MAC's dominant women's program. His record at BG was 144-60 over seven years and his team made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament during the late 1980s.

Induction ceremonies will be held May 22 at the Columbus Convention Center.

Lenny Wilkens, the all-time winningest coach in NBA history who both played for and coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, headlines the induction class.

One of Voll's players at Delphos St. John's, Jeanne Arnzen Gulick, is another member of the class.