ENROLLED ORIGINAL
1
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-27
IN THE COUNC IL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
March 7, 2023
To honor and celebrate the contributions of Coach Robert Nickens to Ward 4 and the greater
District community throughout his career serving young people through sports and for his
400
th
win on the basketball court.
WHEREAS, Robert Nickens, a.k.a. Coach Nickens, is a native Washingtonian who
has a passion for basketball and the young people of the District;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens made his head coaching debut 28 years ago at Margaret
Murray Washington Career High School;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens won his first city championship in 2008 during his third
season at Theodore Roosevelt High School when the Rough Riders defeated both Dunbar
High School and Ballou High School;
WHEREAS, under Coach Nickens’ leadership, Roosevelt High School has become a
public school powerhouse, winning many city titles and the D.C. State Athletic Association
Championship in 2014;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens was named All-Met Coach of the Year in 2020;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens has coached and mentored hundreds of the District’s
young people, more than 100 of whom have gone on to play college sports and many others
have followed his footsteps by pursuing careers in coaching;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens’ commitment to the young people of the District does not
stop when he leaves the basketball court. He spends his “off time” working as a Roving
Leader with the District Department of Parks and Recreation, engaging our youth and
encouraging them to find a path for their lives;
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2022, Coach Nickens achieved the 400
th
victory of his
illustrious career when Roosevelt outscored Dunbar in a 74- 66 victory;
WHEREAS, Coach Nickens vows to keep building up young men and winning
games; and
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Coach Nickens is quoted as saying, “ At the end of the day, I know the
kids in this city need me. What we do here is bigger than ball. It’s bigger than wins and
losses, too. Growing up in DC isn’t like a lot of these suburbs, because there aren’t a lot of
avenues for our kids to make it out. But basketball is one of them. So long as I’m able, I’m
going to keep building up young men and winning games.”
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNC IL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Coach Robert Nickens Recognition Resolution of 202 3”.
Sec. 2. T he Counc il honors and celebrates the career and public cont ributions of Coach
Robert Nickens for his decades of service to the young people of the District of Columbia and the
Ward 4 community.
Sec. 3. T his resolution shall take effect imme diately.