Katie McCool Nichols, aka "Big Mac," was an offensive powerhouse on the basketball court and an intimidating blocker in the volleyball arena.
As a four-year starter and letter winner in volleyball, McCool Nichols was a front-row specialist. In 2006, as a junior, she helped the volleyball team win its second Midwest Conference Championship and qualify for its first NCAA Tournament. "She was a talented middle hitter and an awesome blocker, as her records show," remembers former coach Ken Yasukawa. "She always played with a smile and was good-natured, but also a fierce competitor."
"Big Mac" earned First Team All-MWC recognition (volleyball) for three consecutive years in 2004, 2005, and 2006. McCool Nichols was one of the best at the net in program history, ranking sixth in the conference record book in career kills and eighth in career blocks.
McCool Nichols set multiple match and season records. Upon graduation, she ranked in the career top five in sets players (492), kills (1477), hitting percentage (.285), block assists (363), and total blocks (549).
On the basketball court, McCool Nichols was named First Team All-MWC in 2007 and Second Team All-MWC in 2008, scoring over 800 points and grabbing more than 450 rebounds while blocking nearly 100 shots during her career. Her basketball records include third in points in a game (31) vs. Dominican in 2007 and third in career blocks (97).
McCool Nichols' stellar performance on the courts and in the classroom earned her the 2007 Donald "Red" Janssen Award, which honors Beloit's top female athlete through the junior year. In 2008, McCool Nichols was honored with the Ruth Peterson Award for being Beloit's top senior female student-athlete.
