Nickie Sanlin joined the McKendree University women's volleyball coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2012 season. In the midst of her third season as the Bearcats' top assistant, Sanlin was named as the head coach for the Bearcats' women's volleyball squad in late October of 2014.
Although she was at the helm for only 12 matches at the conclusion of the 2014 campaign, Sanlin helped lead McKendree on a memorable run down the stretch. The Bearcats closed the regular season with an 11-7 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and earned their first-ever bid to the GLVC Tournament. At the eight-team, single-elimination tournament held in East Peoria, Ill., McKendree defeated higher-ranked foes in Rockhurst University and the University of Indianapolis to gain a spot in the GLVC Tournament championship match. The Bearcats gave top-seeded Truman State University all they could handle before dropping a five-set thriller in the title contest.
Thanks to their late-season run and showing in the GLVC Tournament, McKendree enjoyed another first by grabbing a spot in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. The Bearcats' magical run in the 2014 season came to an end against Truman State in the regional quarterfinals, but McKendree finished the year by going 20-14 for its first 20-win season since 2010.
Along the way, freshman outside hitter Arela Williams and sophomore middle hitter Sophie Fairman were recognized for their play throughout the year. Prior to the conference tournament, Williams was named the GLVC Freshman of the Year as well as second-team All-League honors. She later collected Midwest Region Freshman of the Year mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Fairman joined Williams as a second-team All-GLVC selection for her play at the net for the Bearcats.
In her second season as head coach the Bearcats sustained that success with a 15-3 record in conference play to earn a share of the GLVC East Division and the top seed in the GLVC Tournament. Williams thrived under Sanlin as a sophomore earning national praise while leading the team in both kills and digs. As a six rotation player, Williams took home GLVC Player of the Year honors, as well as an AVCA DII All-American Honorable Mention nod, AVCA and D2CCA All-Midwest Region First Team, and First Team All-GLVC.
In 2016, she led the Bearcats to another twenty win season (23-10), finishing second in the GLVC East behind Lewis with a conference record of 16-2. McKendree made a deep run in the GLVC tournament, before falling to Truman State in the championship final. Arela Williams and Sophie Fairman both earned First Team All-GLVC and AVCA All-Midwest Region honors, while senior attacker Allison Schneider was named Second Team All-GLVC. Williams was also named an AVCA honorable mention All-American.
McKendree matched its conference mark of 16-2 from the 2016 season during Sanlin's fourth year at the helm, which was her most successful, as the Bearcats finished with an overall record of 23-9 and won the inaugural GLVC Central Division title. The Bearcats earned an at-large bid into the NCAA division II women's volleyball tournament for the second time in program history. Senior right-side hitter Amanda Geiger was named the GLVC Player of the Year, earning First Team All-GLVC honors along with teammates Arela Williams and setter Morgan Melchert. Geiger and Williams were both named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region team and picked up AVCA Third Team All-American honors.
In July of 2016 Sanlin was selected to be a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Diversity Development Team which supports the initiatives of leadership and advancement for aspiring ethnic minority coaches through the NCAA Matching Diversity Grant Program. As one of eight members Sanlin is tasked with the development of programming and the awarding of the annual AVCA Minority Coaches Award.
As a player, Sanlin starred at Marshall University. She was a three-year starter during her career at Marshall, helping the Thundering Herd to a Conference USA title as a senior in 2005. Sanlin registered 245 kills and 84 blocks on her way to second-team All-Conference honors during her senior season. Sanlin also earned All-Tournament honors in leading Marshall to three straight wins on their way to the Conference USA Tournament championship.
