Born June 22, 1993, to Dwight and Ronna Nolan in Dayton, Ohio, Nia Nolan attended Trotwood Madison High School where she competed in varsity soccer and basketball. Her path to WVU Tech began after attending a basketball event hosted by her uncle, Brod, called Starbound. There, she caught the attention of a WVU Tech scout who would later become her assistant coach.
In 2011, Nolan joined the Golden Bears as a walk-on point guard. During the first half of her freshman season, she stepped into the starting role due to multiple injuries and averaged nearly 38 minutes per game the rest of the year. She went on to become one of the most decorated players in program history. As a sophomore, Nolan was named AII Tournament MVP, leading WVU Tech to a championship. She later set program records as the all-time leading scorer and top assist provider, earning All-American honors on the court and recognition as an Academic All-American. In her senior season, she was named Player of the Year, showcasing leadership, resilience and determination.
Following graduation, Nolan continued her impact through coaching and mentorship. She became a middle school basketball coach and led her eighth-grade team to a championship in 2019. She also mentored fourth- and fifth-grade students at an elementary school. Nolan welcomed her son, JayShon Cockrell Jr., in 2019 and her daughter, Ja’Nyia Cockrell, in 2020. She later served as the head JV coach for the West Carrollton girls basketball program and spent a year as an assistant coach for the West Carrollton boys varsity team.
In 2023, Nolan began pursuing a career in nursing. After the loss of her best friend, Keisha, in a car accident in September 2024, she persevered and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in December 2025. She continues to work as an LPN while advancing her education toward becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).
