Prairie View’s most recognized and celebrated coach was Billy Nicks. Known as the “Bear Bryant” of black college football, Nicks was head coach from 1945 to 1947, assistant coach from 1948 to 1951, and head coach again from 1952 to 1965. His record for 17 years was 127–39–8. He led the Panthers to eight Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and five black college national championships. At the Panthers’ peak under Nicks, Eddie Robinson was said to dread playing Prairie View.

Nicks was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Nicks was named the American Football Coaches Association’s recipient of the Trailblazer Award.