Dr. Larry Nickell joined Howard Payne University in 1991 as director of intercollegiate athletics and associate professor and chair of the department of exercise science. Howard Payne teams during his tenure won 30 conference championships – with every team winning at least one conference championship. The men’s basketball team reached the NAIA National Tournament and the football team hosted its first-ever NAIA football playoff game. Nickell also was named NAIA District 8 Administrator of the Year in 1993. The number of student athletes grew by 50%, from 300 to 450 during his time at the school. He oversaw HPU’s move from NAIA to NCAA Division III. He raised funds to build a new baseball field and a new field house with locker rooms, offices, a weight room and athletic training room entry. He also taught biomechanics, physiology and leadership and grew the department of exercise science to the second largest on campus. Nickell earned a doctorate from the University of Arkansas, D.D.S from Baylor College of Dentistry and a B.A. and M.A. from Austin College. He also taught and coached in several Texas public and private schools and was an adjunct professor at Austin College. Nickell had dentistry practices in Wylie and Van Alstyne and taught at Baylor College of Dentistry.