For 42 years, one man has seen it all at Loyola—Kelly Nicholson. From the rush of a new school year to the long office hours for years on end, Nicholson has been a math teacher and baseball coach who centers his work style around Loyola’s values. His journey into education wasn’t random, but deeply rooted within the influence of his father, who spent his career teaching.
“My dad worked in education his whole life,” Nicholson said. “By the time he retired, he was an athletic director. I grew up watching him teach and coach, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Teaching at the high school level was the goal, but finding Loyola was the cherry on top.
“The Dean of Men at the time, Ed Hearn, was a childhood friend of mine—like an older brother. He became my mentor and helped me get started here.”
With both of them having gone to Loyola Marymount University, Nicholson found his way to Loyola, where he’s been shaping young minds since.
Over the years, some of Nicholson’s favorite memories have come from trips taken with other faculty outside of the classroom.
“We used to do these trips, like going to Del Mar or Las Vegas for a few days,” he reminisced. “We’d play golf, go to the races and just relax. It’s moments like that, where you get to just be with the people you’ve worked with for so long, that really stick with you.”
Some new and young additions have been brought into the Loyola family, so of course he had some great advice for these new teachers.
“It’s not just about the material you teach. The students might not remember the quadratic formula, but they will remember the life skills—how to manage time, communicate and build relationships,” he said.
Even after 42 years, Nicholson’s passion for teaching hasn’t faded.
“Loyola is a ‘get to’ place for me,” he emphasized. “I get to come here every day. I get to work with incredible students and colleagues. That’s what keeps me going—the chance to keep making a difference, to develop character in young men.”
Looking back, he is most proud of his longevity here at Loyola. Just being at Loyola for 42 years means something.
“It speaks to the community, the students and the faculty. I wouldn’t have stayed this long if I didn’t love it.”