Olivet Nazarene University

"This program has been able to maintain a certain level of consistency, but there are some clear limitations that are holding it back from reaching a higher level. At a high level, there’s a sense of complacency. The standard feels like it’s centered around maintaining what’s already been built rather than pushing to exceed it. That shows up in different ways, especially in scheduling. Non-conference games tend to be on the softer side, which limits opportunities to really test the team and prepare for higher-level competition. Very reliant on name reputation without a lot of substance to back up play. Within the conference, the team has success, but the gap in resources between this program and others in the league plays a role. The program benefits from advantages that naturally raise its floor, but it rarely pushes beyond that into what it could actually become. It feels more like sustaining than building. There isn’t always a clear, strong vision that players and staff can rally around. Communication tends to be indirect—there’s often a lot said without much clarity or direction behind it. That can make it difficult for players to fully understand expectations or feel confident in where things are headed. The coach is very hands-on and likes to control most aspects of the program. There isn’t much delegation, and it can feel like everything runs through one voice. That can create a lack of ownership across the program. There are also questions on the basketball side. In-game adjustments and strategic decisions don’t consistently give the team an edge, and there can be hesitation when things need to change. Very few changes have been made over time no matter how big the roster overhaul is. Along with that, confrontation and accountability don’t always seem to be handled strongly. When players push back or situations get uncomfortable, there can be a tendency to give ground rather than address things directly. The biggest concern, though, is the player experience and overall culture. There appears to be a lack of trust between players and the coaching staff. A lot of players seem checked out and are more focused on just getting through each day than actually improving or competing. It becomes more about surviving than developing. It’s easy for players to fall in line with others who are taking the same approach, and over time, that lowers the overall standard. Instead of being pushed, players can get by doing the minimum. The environment doesn’t consistently demand more from them, and as a result, growth is limited. There isn’t much noticeable progression in terms of strength, athleticism, or skill over time. Retention is also something to pay attention to. There are a lot of players who end up leaving the program, and that usually says something. Overall, this is a program that has a relatively high floor because of its situation, but it doesn’t come close to reaching its ceiling. It’s easy for players to blend in and get through their time there without being pushed to grow. The main challenge isn’t physical—it’s mental and cultural. Until there’s a shift in expectations, accountability, and direction, it’s hard to see the program taking the next step."

"Coach Birkey’s career, when you look past the surface, can be summed up in three words: complacency, stubbornness, and delusion. He refuses to change anything. He runs an outdated offense from the 1980s and treats it like it still works today. Whenever players or even GAs suggest trying something new, his answer is always the same: “This has worked before, why change?” What he doesn’t realize is that his past “success” had more to do with what he inherited than anything he created. The program had strong recruits, great facilities, and the respect built by the previous coach. From the outside, it looks like a solid program. On the inside, it is a completely different story. That false image started early. When he first took over (due to his head coach passing away from an illness), the team won a lot of games and he even got Coach of the Year. On paper, that looks impressive. In reality, that team was loaded with talent, including two players who would go into the hall of fame. The second they played teams with similar talent, the difference showed. They didn’t just lose, they got outplayed and out coached. The players on that team knew it then, and many still say the same thing now. Nothing has changed since then. The same pattern keeps happening: rely on talent, make no adjustments, and blame the players effort when things go wrong. He acts tough in practice and on the sidelines, like he is in control of everything. But when you actually confront him, that act disappears. He avoids eye contact and just tells you what you want to hear without meaning it. If you ask him how to improve or how to earn more playing time, you get the same generic answers like “keep working hard” or “your opportunity is coming.” There is no real plan to help players get better. He also clearly doesn’t understand what it takes to be a high-level athlete in terms of training, nutrition, and development, so there is no real guidance there either. Even practices reflect this. The drills are outdated and don’t match how modern basketball is played. If anyone brings up trying something new, he shuts it down and calls it gimmicky. And if you want the full picture, look beyond the team. As someone who has been on Olivet’s campus, the criticism of him isn’t just from players. Coaches, professors, and staff talk about him the same way, mainly because he acts like everything revolves around him. When people all across campus feel that way, it says a lot. I even had someone in admissions tell me they were sorry I have to deal with him for four years, which is not something you want to hear as a freshman. That kind of reputation doesn’t come from nowhere.Even when you looking at donors and alumni night, there is a clear difference when looking at the pre-Birkey era vs. now. None of his former players want to support this man. This isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about a program that looks good from the outside but falls apart once you actually see how it’s run. Outside of my experience teaching me how to deal with a bad boss, I didn't learn anything from him as a coach. I cannot stress this enough, do not play for this joke of a coach. "

"My experience at Olivet was good in all areas besides the Coach. Which as an athlete a Coach can make or break and experience for you. Nick Birkey has the great ability to ruin a players love for the game and also make his athletes dread being around him and ultimately “hate” him. Before the season starts he has his mind made up on who his starting 5 will be and he will play them no matter how poor they perform. It does not matter how well you play in practice or how hard you work, his mind is made up and he will not change. If you try and talk to him about anything regarding performance he will immediately shut you down and hold it against you the rest of your career. If you are given a chance to play and you excel with your opportunity he will still only play you for a short amount of time until he wants to put the players back in the game that he has chosen to be his “guys” at the start of the season. He has no concept of how to run practices that will help translate to the game. You will do drills that are pointless and will not help you develop into a better player. The weight program is a joke and players will lose weight and muscle throughout the season from being overworked. On team trips he will make you and a teammate split $20 for a meal which in today’s society is not possible. I had to spend my own money on countless occasions just to pay for my full meal. Also if you bring up that $10 is not enough to pay for a meal he will become defensive and turn the situation around on you that you are being ungrateful. But he will proceed to order a full meal for himself because he is more important than the players. In my 4 years almost 30 athletes quit and almost all of them with the same reason being Nick Birkey. In his eyes he is never the problem, but ultimately he is the only problem. Athletes will begin to count down the days to graduation as sophomores or even freshmen because they want to get away from him. Many players will not want to speak out about this but if you were to know them and ask them behind closed doors every single last one would say the same thing about Nick as a person and a coach. To have this man in a leadership role and have the ability to impact young athletes is unfortunate because he will never have someone leave his program stating they became better in anyway. As a faith based institution Olivet should take these aspects into consideration but when it was brought to their attention they did nothing because winning a few conference championships with teams that were handed to him is enough for them. If you are an athlete about to pick where you want to go to school and Nick Birkey contacts you I’d go to any other program in the country. "

"This is from a parent of a player who spent four years in the program. We expected a higher level of care for student athletes at a faith based university. Absolutely disappointed in our son’s and our experience. First of all, 28 kids quit the program in four years, he did not care or follow up with any of them. He would lose many more players if not for their love for each other. They find solace and comfort in dealing with his coaching style together. Most locker room and roommate talk on campus is complaining about the coach. He does not know how to run a program. He has no relationships with the parents, never communicates in any way on how the players are doing. He is not receptive to players feedback. He belittles players regularly and completely ignores the players that are not in the top varsity rotation. His players and team do not show improvement. Players don’t develop their skill set during their four years and teams peak early in the season. His teams are competitive and have at times dominated the conference, one that has now become very weak. But his teams routinely lose in first round of national tournament, usually get blown out. Players are fatigued at end of season because of such heavy minutes by small rotation and they are burnt out from his overhearing coaching style. Players routinely comment on how they “hate” him as a coach and are looking forward to season and ultimately career ending. He never changes his game plans and cannot (does not) make in game adjustments. He wins game they are more talented than the opponents and rarely ever beats a comparable team or upsets a better team. Players do not come back to follow up with him after graduation, and he never reaches out or tries to maintain a relationship with the players. He also makes no effort to help them find jobs or connect them with post graduate opportunities. That is a tragedy. A coach has the unique opportunity to develop young student athletes as they tackle college on their first journey away from the comfort of home. A coach should mentor student athletes and help them grow as young men, and exhibit what being a Christian man in an athletic competitive environment looks like. fails miserably at all of this. He does not connect with players, they end up having no respect for him and lose their love for the game. They grow up chasing the dream of getting the opportunity to play at the college level and he squashes their passion for playing usually within the first year. He doesn’t hire assistant coaches with coaching experience, he just uses grad assistants because he is so controlling and doesn’t want input or any comparable experience or better knowledge. He doesn’t have a weight training program. He does nothing to monitor nutrition for his athletes in any way. In fact, on road trips they usually are held to a $10 meal stipend and he controls all the money. How can a college athlete eat out on $10 these days??? I could share so many specific examples of the things I am describing but I don’t have enough time or characters left. The administration also knows all this and chooses to do nothing, even with feedback from players and parents. Winning enough conference games must be the only metric he is measured by because he fails at every other meaningful aspect of being a college coach. We were utterly disappointed in the ONU men’s basketball experience, for our family and our son, especially after all the years of effort to get him to the point of being able to compete as a college student athlete. I also have empathy for all the other families and student athletes that feel the same way, which was the vast majority during our four years. I feel bad for any young man, and his family that end up choosing to play for him. ONU is a good institution, but the basketball part of the experience will be a major disappointment."

"Had an awesome experience at the school, but with the basketball program, not at all. The whole program is in shambles. "