John Curtis hires wrestling coach already familiar with state championship success

John Curtis has a new wrestling coach already familiar with the New Orleans metro area and LHSAA state championship success.

Former Brother Martin coach Andrew Nicola, a two-time Division I state title winner in his five seasons in charge of the program, has been hired to oversee the wrestling program at Curtis, the school announced Monday.

Curtis hired Nicola in place of former coach John Kendrick, who retired after the school’s Division III state runner-up season ended in February.

Brother Martin won state titles with Nicola as head coach in 2020 and 2022. He was an assistant when Brother Martin won the title in 2019.

Brother Martin announced after the 2024 season that Nicola would not remain as coach. Brother Martin in April hired three-time LHSAA state wrestling champion Nick Shields, a 2008 graduate, as head coach.

This story will be updated.