Nicolaisen spent two years on staff at Seton Hall, serving as the volunteer assistant during the 2018 season and as a full-time assistant in 2019. A native of Denmark, he previously worked as an instructor with the Danish Softball Federation and in travel ball in New Jersey.
“It definitely was a difficult decision to leave Seton Hall and softball as a sport,” Nicolaisen told JWOS. “I grew up playing Fastpitch softball, so softball [has]always had a special place for me. I owe a lot to Coach Smith and her trust in me. She is a tremendous coach and leader. I’m forever grateful for what she has done for me.”
In his new role with the MLB’s Cardinals, Nicolaisen will serve in a hybrid role as a hitting instructor and analyst. He will primarily work out of the team’s spring training complex in Palm Beach, Florida, and will also be the hitting coach for the team’s Rookie League affiliate, the Johnson City Cardinals.
“I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with the Cardinals and the team that their leadership, Jeff Albert and Russ Steinhorn, has assembled,” Nicolaisen added. “I was blown away by their vision for my role. It was important to me to be a part of a team of coaches that would push and learn from each other and the system that Jeff and Russ are putting in place is just that.”
Under Nicolaisen’s tutelage in the 2019 season, the Pirates’ offense posted a .277 batting average as a unit, with thirty-five home runs and a .447 team on-base percentage.
