Irving Eggleston, Jr. (B.S.B.A. ’16, MBA ’18) is a Nichols College Hall of Fame basketball player who has found a perfect balance between a vocation in corporate accounting and an avocation in athletics. An avid basketball player and coach, Eggleston continued his love for the game beyond his student years, coaching at several New England colleges, and currently serving as Assistant Coach for the Junior Celtics organization, working with kids from grades 3-12. 

And professionally, Irv Eggleston’s accounting career trajectory after graduating from Nichols is upward rising. Initially starting as a field accountant with Boston-based AFFCPAs, Eggleston now plays a key role as senior internal auditor at CVS Health’s headquarters in Woonsocket, RI, managing a staff and working directly with the corporation’s senior leadership. 

A Rapid Path to a Fulfilling Career

Entrepreneurial fire sparked during his MBA program at Nichols inspired Eggleston to found his own basketball-centric company – Ball Never Lies, LLC. – an organization that hosts elite basketball events to showcase the talent of top middle school and high school athletes across New England. He runs BNL as a way to inspire young athletes and give back to the community.

Early on, Eggleston knew he wanted to study business and eventually pursue an MBA. Through a friend who had attended Nichols College, Eggleston had learned of its reputation as a business school, and specifically of the Nichols 4+1 Program which allows a student to complete both an Undergraduate and MBA degree in a truncated timeframe. This flexible, focused approach checked a number of boxes for him.

Primarily, coming from a very large high school in Connecticut, Eggleston believed studying in the smaller environment Nichols afforded would allow him to thrive. “I wanted go to small school where I knew I could make an impact, where I could be involved in a diversity of experiences, and could wear a lot of different hats,” he shared. 

Leveraging the Nichols College Experience

Determined to find his way outside of the basketball court alone, for the first two years on campus Eggleston also engaged with a broad range of student groups, activities, and sought meaningful faculty and alumni connections. This approach, he explained, opened numerous doors and was invaluable in his development both as a student and an athlete. 

“At Nichols,” says Eggleston, “both academics and athletics really shaped the person that I am today. I became very outgoing, very business minded. I was involved in a ton of different things on campus, and it really got me out of my shell.”

Without Nichols College’s faculty and philosophy, Eggleston speculates he would not have gained the skills that he has now as a professional. “In the majority of classes,” says Eggleston, “whether undergrad or MBA classes – we were perpetually challenged with developing our presentation, public speaking, and leadership skills. We were challenged to find new ways to stand out in the crowd.”

These core competencies, broad experiences, and deep connections gained during his time at Nichols have afforded Eggleston a solid foundation from which to stand out – as a professional in a world class company, as a coach, mentor, and community builder. When asked why he recommends Nichols College to some of the youth he works with, without a beat Eggleston answers, “it’s the family environment, the opportunity to engage, to be involved, and develop in a supportive community that wants you to succeed.” 

Learn more about Irving Eggleston’s work with Ball Never Lies at https://ballneverliesbnl.com/