Baylor

Nicholas Forde is in his first year as a quality control coach with Baylor Football in 2025. 
 
Forde, a native of Desoto, Texas, joined the Baylor staff after spending four seasons on the staff at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. 
 
Forde was the co-defensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024 for HPU, also serving as the secondary coach and co-special teams coordinator. His defensive unit led the conference in interceptions, turnovers, opponent third-down conversion rate and opponent QB completion percentage in 2023. In 2024, he had four all-conference players in the secondary. 
 
In 2022, Forde was elevated to assistant coach working with the secondary and as the co-special teams coordinator. He coached three all-conference contributors, including first-team selection Kyle Bell. 
 
He was a part-time assistant coach for HPU in 2021, working with the safeties and as the co-special teams coordinator. He helped HPU earn its first winning season since 2005, while helping lead recruiting in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Houston. 
 
Forde was a four-year defensive starter and two-time captain at Northwestern State (La.) from 2005-19. He was voted as the Male Heart of a Demon award winner in 2020, was a two-time Southland Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll selection and represented NSU at the 2019 Southland Conference Media Days. 
 
Forde earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State in 2019.