Nicholl was then appointed assistant manager of Kilmarnock for a second time, by Kenny Shiels on 15 June 2011.[11] Kilmarnock won the 2011–12 Scottish League Cup under Shiels and Nicholl, but Shiels was sacked by Kilmarnock in June 2013. Nicholl then decided to accept the offer of assistant manager at Hibernian.[12][13] After manager Pat Fenlon resigned on 1 November, Nicholl was appointed caretaker manager.[14] Nicholl left Hibernian soon after their new management team was recruited.[15]