Centennial High School baseball coach, teacher, and athletic director Billy Nicholson enjoys a summer job just like many of his players at the North Fulton school. However, while his students may be delivering pizzas or bagging groceries, the Health and Physical Education instructor is mapping out game strategy and pitching batting practice to future Major Leaguers.
After Centennial’s baseball season is over (usually during the month of May), Coach Nicholson heads to Rome, Georgia to catch up with the Atlanta Braves Single-A affiliate the Rome Braves. There, the 38-year-old father of two transitions from high school jack-of-all-trades to bench coach for a minor league baseball club.
Though his duties vary depending on what is needed at the time, Nicholson generally helps out by scouting opposing hitters, pitching batting practice, and hitting infield or outfield. A typical day with the club begins at 10 a.m. and ends after midnight.
Coach Nicholson began his career in professional baseball as an area scout in Southwest Georgia under former Atlanta Braves scout Al Goetz and Head Scouting Director Roy Clark. Nicholson worked in the scouting role for eight years with the organization and also helped out with the pre-draft, which takes place in late May just before the annual Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
His position with the Braves organization led the Georgia Southwestern alumnus to being hired by the Rome Braves in 2003 as a part-time summer coach, a position only the Pittsburgh Pirate organization had utilized to that point. Several other franchises have adopted this type of part-time coaching role in their minor league systems since the Braves began the practice. This unique position has allowed Nicholson to be a part of the same team as current Major Leaguers such as John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Yunel Escobar. His experience earlier this year with Smoltz was especially gratifying.
“Just to be in the same dugout and be able to speak to somebody of that caliber that means so much to the game of baseball … is something that I can take and pass on to our kids at Centennial or any other high school kids. John has a genuine interest in the development of this game and the people in it. What a special guy.”
After coaching baseball in high school, playing in college and coaching at the pro level, Nicholson believes that the game is similar no matter what level it is played on.
“The biggest thing that I’ve realized is that the game is the same no matter what level you’re on, whether it’s little league, high school, college or pro. The game is just a little faster (at the pro level) but most of these guys have the same ideals … that we’re trying to teach our kids about in high school.”
Nicholson is currently in his sixth season as part-time bench coach for the Braves. In early August, he returns to Centennial to resume his role as athletic director. However, when the Braves are in town on the weekend, Nicholson travels to Rome to fill any role that is needed with the team.
The coach/teacher/administrator is grateful to have a loving family behind him that is supportive no matter what season it is.
“I hope one day I’ll get the opportunity to do this full-time. It’s a treat to be able to coach professional baseball and I couldn’t do all of this without my wife and kids being so understanding and supportive.”
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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