Anthero “Nick” Nicolau, 81, husband of Eleanor Weiss Nicolau, died Saturday, Dec. 6, in Wareham surrounded by his family. He was born May 5, 1933 in the Bronx, NY, son of the late Antonio Jose Nicolau and Joana Pimental Brum, originally from San Miguel, Azores, Portugal.

Nick attended New Bedford High School and graduated in 1956 from Southern Connecticut State University, where he was a running back on the football team, played baseball and ran track. He earned a master’s degree from Indiana University and doctorate from Springfield College. Nick was a U.S. Marine, 1st Marine Division, a Korean War Veteran, serving with honor from 1954-1956.

Throughout his 40-year coaching career, Nick climbed the football ranks from the high school level to the NFL. He started his career at Wareham High School before his 16 years at the collegiate level, with stops at Southern Connecticut State (1960), Springfield College (1961), the University of Bridgeport (1962-69, head coach from 1965-69), University of Massachusetts (1970), University of Connecticut (1971-72), University of Kentucky (1973-75) and Kent State (1976). Nick was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1969.

Nick’s professional coaching career began in 1977 and spanned the next 21 years. He coached in the Canadian Football League (Hamilton & Montreal) before joining the ranks of the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1980.  His NFL stops included the Denver Broncos (1982-87), Los Angeles Raiders (1988), Buffalo Bills (1989-91), Indianapolis Colts (1992-95), Jacksonville Jaguars (1996), San Diego Chargers (1997) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1998).

Nick coached in four Super Bowls, four Pro Bowls, two CFL Grey Cups and 18 NFL playoffs games. He was inducted into Southern Connecticut State University Hall of Fame in 1995, the first graduate to become a head college football coach.

In 1996, Nick founded and later became Chairman Emeritus of the NFL Coaches Association, an association founded to give voice to NFL Assistant Coaches. Nick was a member of the Boston 33 Touchdown Club, receiving the Jack Driscoll Award in 2008. In addition to his passion for football, Nick was an accomplished trumpet player.

Nick is survived by his wife of 57 years, Eleanor, and his six children: Tracey Wise (Thomas), Lexington, KY; Duane Nicolau, Duxbury, MA; Shari Williams, Duxbury; Vickie Adkinson (Philip), Cincinnati, OH; Wendy Ruffing, Columbus, OH; and Randy Nicolau (Jennifer), NYC.

He is also lovingly remembered by his 13 grandchildren and great grandson. Nick is also survived by his sister, Mariana Sabino (Lee), N Dartmouth, MA. The family is grateful for the professional and compassionate care provided by Tender Hearts.

His funeral will be from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, High St., Wareham at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Wareham. Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, NY NY 10163-4777. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.