Johns Creek head baseball coach Billy Nicholson notched his 500th career coaching victory on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Johns Creek High School)

Johns Creek's Nicholson records 500th career coaching victory

The 2025 baseball season has been a year or Georgia high school coaches reaching career milestones.

Already, three prep coaches have recorded their 500th career coaching victory this season -- Kennesaw Mountain's George Hansen, Walton's Shane Amos and Allatoona's Keith Hansen.

Add another to the 500 career coaching wins list.

Georgia Dugout Club ambassador Billy Nicholson became the latest to join the milestone club when his Gladiators defeated Lanier 6-1 Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The decorated coach has a career coaching record of 500-292 after Tuesday night's victory.

Nicholson also has recorded 203 softball victories.

He took over the Fulton County school in the fall of 2009 and has guided the Gladiators to three semifinal trips (2012, 2014 and 2017) and three region titles. More than 150 players under his leadership have went on to play college or professional baseball. He was named Atlanta Braves 400 Coach of the Year in 2012.

He spent five seasons at Centennial High School where he took the Knights to the state playoffs twice.

Before Centennial, he led Southland Academy to a state baseball title in 2004 as well as four trips to the state semifinals and two state runner-up finishes while playing in the Georgia Independent Schools Association.

Nicholson's baseball leadership goes beyond the high school game. He has been an Associate Scout for the Marlins and the Braves and served as a minor league coach in the Braves organization from 1999-2017. He served on the staffs of Braves' managers Brian Snitker, Dave Brundage and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox.

In 2019, Nicholson served as first base coach for Hall of Fame and retired Clemson coach Jack Leggetts' team for the inaugural MLB Pipeline Series High School All-Star Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland. He also was an assistant coach in 2005-2007 for the AFLAC/Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Nicholson was the Georgia Dugout Club President from 2019-2024 and has served on several coaching committees from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the National High School Baseball Coaches Association (NHSBCA).