30 People Showed Up to Support Coach Blake Nichols
TLDR
About 30 parents and students attended the March 24 Lakeville school board meeting to support girls basketball coach Blake Nichols.
Four speakers during public comment asked the board to table his district-requested resignation. All criticized the investigation process.
The consent agenda — which included Nichols’ resignation — passed 5-1 without being pulled for separate discussion.
Nichols’ departure comes just one day after Lakeville South’s boys hockey coach also resigned at the district’s request.
Tuesday night’s Lakeville school board meeting had a packed audience — and most of them were there for one reason. About 30 parents, students, and community members showed up to support Blake Nichols, who resigned as Lakeville South’s girls basketball coach at the district’s request.
His name appeared on the consent agenda alongside nearly 30 other probationary staff whose contracts aren’t being renewed. Four people signed up for public comment, and every single one asked the board to pull his resignation from the consent agenda and table it for further review.
It didn’t happen. The consent agenda passed 5-1.
What the Community Said
The four speakers didn’t hold back.
Mike Sherels, a former University of Minnesota football linebackers coach who now lives in Lakeville, spoke first. He has three daughters in the Lakeville South basketball program. He talked about how Nichols knows every kid in the program by name — from third graders to varsity players — and follows up with families personally. Sherels noted that when his oldest daughter had knee surgery that afternoon, Nichols and his girlfriend were among the first to reach out and have checked in every few days since.
Maddie Wolkow, a former two-time Lakeville South basketball captain and college athlete, delivered the most pointed critique. She works on federal contracts and collaborates with HR and legal teams professionally. She called the investigation process “unbalanced and incomplete,” saying families and community members who were willing to provide context were never interviewed.
Joe McCarney, a basketball association board member with two daughters in the program, echoed the concern. He said the decision felt “made in a vacuum” and that people who tried to share supportive feedback during the process were met with little engagement.
A fourth speaker, Beth Beckwith, a 36-year district media specialist, used her time to address a separate topic — facility planning concerns around library space — but was part of the same public comment period.
The Bigger Picture
Nichols’ resignation came just one day after Lakeville South boys hockey coach Josh Storm also resigned at the district’s request. Storm had been on administrative leave since January 28 pending an investigation. According to Star Tribune reporting, it’s been a turbulent period for Lakeville athletics — Lakeville North girls hockey coach Buck Kochevar narrowly avoided being fired last October when 19 players showed up to a board meeting to save his job.
In two seasons under Nichols, the Lakeville South girls basketball team went 13-14 and 18-10, losing to Lakeville North in the Section 1 semifinals in February.
The district has not disclosed the reasons behind the resignation request, citing employee privacy. Nichols’ probationary teaching contract was also not renewed.
What Happens Now
With the consent agenda approved 5-1, Nichols’ resignation stands. The board did not comment on the public remarks — as stated in the public comment guidelines, no board response occurs during the session.
Lakeville South will need to find a new girls basketball coach — as well as a new boys hockey coach following Storm’s departure.
For families in the Lakeville community, this is a story worth watching. The speakers made it clear they believe the process matters just as much as the outcome — and that sentiment isn’t going away.
The Bottom Line
The community made its voice heard, but the board moved forward. If you’re a Lakeville South basketball family, the coaching search is now underway. Keep an eye on the school district website for updates.
The speakers raised legitimate questions about the investigation process that the board didn’t address publicly. Whether those questions get answered remains to be seen.
FAQ
Why did Coach Nichols resign?
The district requested his resignation. The specific reasons haven’t been disclosed, citing employee privacy. His probationary teaching contract was also not renewed.
Did the board vote on his resignation separately?
No. His resignation was part of the consent agenda, a batch of routine items approved all at once. The consent agenda passed 5-1. No board member moved to pull his resignation for separate discussion.
Who spoke at the meeting in his support?
Four speakers: Mike Sherels (former Gopher football coach and parent), Maddie Wolkow (former LS basketball captain), Joe McCarney (basketball association board member), and Beth Beckwith (district media specialist who spoke on a separate topic).
Is this connected to the hockey coach situation?
Both Nichols and boys hockey coach Josh Storm resigned at the district’s request within 24 hours of each other. The circumstances appear to be separate, but the timing has amplified community concern.
What did the speakers criticize?
They said the investigation process was incomplete — that families and community members willing to provide context and positive feedback were never interviewed or given the opportunity to participate.
