Kelly Combs is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Union College men's basketball team. The Richmond, Ky. native was named to the helm of the Bulldogs in February of 2002, making him the 13th person to hold the position since World War II.

During his brief tenure, Combs has guided to a 97-101 record with his best season coming during the 2005-06 campaign when the Bulldogs posted a 22-11 - the program's first 20-win season in nine years. He has had seven players named to the Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Conference Team with one First Team member as well as having five players earning AAC All-Freshman Team honors, including Joe Bramlage being named the league's Freshman of the Year in 2002-03. In February of 2004, Bramlage was named the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II Player of the Week. In addition, Combs has had two players named as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Prior to coming to Union, Combs has spent the 10-plus seasons at Berea (Ky.) College as its assistant basketball coach and head junior varsity coach. As the recruiting coordinator for Berea, he helped build the teams that qualified for and competed in the NAIA Division II National Championship Tournament four times in the last six years, including a trip to the Final Four in 1999. In addition, five of his recruits have been named All-Americans.

Combs is no stranger to Union, having played the 1987-88 season for the Bulldogs. The following year, he transferred to Kentucky Christian College and helped it win the NCCAA National Championship. In high school, Combs was a member of the 1987 Madison Central squad that finished in the KHSAA Sweet 16 Final Four.

In 1992, Combs received his Bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

In addition to being the men's head basketball coach, Combs served also the men's golf coach from 2002-06. In his first season at the helm, Combs led the Bulldogs to the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and was named the 2002-03 AAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year.

Combs is married, and he and his wife Jody have four children: Kyle, Katelyn, Kristen and Kevin.

Jerry Nichols is beginning his second season with the Bulldogs.

The Memphis, Tenn. native came to Union after serving as an assistant coach at Walters State (Tenn.) Community College in 2006-07 under head coach Bill Carlyle, helping guide the Senators to a 21-11 overall record.

Nichols played two seasons at Walters State, twice earning All-Conference, All-American and Player of the Year honors. During his final season as a Senator, he helped the team win the State and Region VII championships as well as earn a berth to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.

After his stint at Walters State, Nichols moved on to play two season at NCAA Division I Arkansas State University. As a junior, he led the team in 3-point baskets with 61 and averaged 9.6 points per game. A knee injury ended Nichols' senior season.

Nichols is single and resides in Barbourville, Ky.