Meet Nicole! Nicole is a dedicated college soccer coach who has spent her life coaching athletes and sharing her passion for sports with the next generation.
Nicole is from West Haven, Connecticut, where her love for sports began. At West Haven High School, she was an 11-season varsity athlete. Soccer was her main sport, and she played varsity soccer for all four years, ending her high school career as team captain. Nicole was an All-State Girls Soccer Player, All-SCC, and All-Area honoree, showcasing her leadership on the field. She also played varsity basketball for three years, serving as captain, and competed in track and field for three years, running the 800, 4×800, 1600, and throwing shot put. In her senior year, Nicole tried lacrosse to enjoy time with friends. Despite her diverse sports involvement, soccer remained her true love.
Nicole played soccer at Stonehill College for one year before transferring to the University of New Haven, where she spent her final three collegiate years on the Division II soccer team. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management and Collegiate Administration. During her time at New Haven, Nicole helped the team achieve 31 wins, served as a two-year captain, and received numerous accolades, including All-Northeast-10, NCAA All-East Region, NEWISA All-New England, and NEWISA Senior Bowl selections! Impressively, during her junior, senior, and post college year, she played in a semi-professional soccer league, the WPSL Women’s Premier Soccer League on the CFC Passion! She was able to travel and play with other semi-pro teams in the New England area and experience a professional setting and playing environment.
After college, Nicole transitioned into coaching, spending two years as an assistant coach at New Haven while completing her Master’s degree. She then served as the head coach at Queens College for three years, as an assistant coach at the University of Richmond for one year, and as an assistant coach at Binghamton University for three years. At Binghamton her team won two conference regular season championships and was named to the Coaching Staff of the Year. Now, Nicole is currently the head women’s soccer coach at Marist College, a NCAA Division I program! She also continues to strive to grow as a leader and be the best coach she can be. She holds a United States Soccer “C” coaching license and United Soccer Coaches National and Advanced National Diplomas. Nicole was selected to the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Coach Credentialing Cohort, honored as a member of the 2021 United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 Class, and chosen for the 2020 NCAA WeCoach Academy Class. Her expertise in soccer and dedication to her athletes are truly inspiring.
Fitness and soccer remain integral to Nicole’s life. She is actively involved with Orangetheory, continues to run and lift, and thrives in competitive environments. Nicole has completed a half marathon and recently ran a full marathon, raising money for student-athlete mental health. She also plays in adult co-ed and women’s soccer leagues. This November, Nicole will be inducted into the West Haven High School Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as a role model and inspiration to every athlete she meets! Read all about Nicole and how sports and soccer have positively impacted her life!
Q: What sports did you play growing up?
I played soccer, basketball, did dance, lacrosse, track, softball (T-Ball), and hockey!
Q:Was there anything that made you hesitant about starting your sport(s)?
No; I honestly loved to compete in everything and nothing was more fun to me than winning games.
Q: What female athletes (or any athletes) did you look up to?
Mia Hamm as a kid; she was the face of women’s soccer for me growing up. I remember I had her jersey when I was younger and also another USA Jersey t-shirt with the #10 (favorite number) and my last name personalized on the back that I wore every other day because I thought it was so cool. Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird were also on my wall growing up, being big time players from Connecticut, Sue Bird wore my favorite number 10.
As I got older, Carli Loyd and Julie Ertz became two of my favorite players; more so how they play, how they carried themselves and who they are as people and leaders I always felt I could relate to.
Q: What is your favorite memory associated with sports?
I have two:
1. winning the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association State Championship with my West Haven U14 travel team back in 2004. It was a huge feat for out group and we were always the underdog; I remember taking a school bus up to the game which you didn’t take busses to youth travel games but we did and we decorated the bus with window paint and blasted jock jams remix “are you ready for this.” After we won we rode the bus back home around our tan as if we were in a parade like we wont the world cup. Getting people to honk and beep it was such a fun experience as a kid.
2. The next was in college and that was winning the first round of the Northeast -10 tournament game. We beat Merrimack in the first round 5-1 after losing to them in regular season 3-2 in overtime. It was the first and still is the program’s first Ne-10 tournament win and I just remember the excitement and pride I felt to be a charger that day.
Q: How has playing sports helped shape your life?
Sports has shaped me in so many ways; they are my life. My career is in sports, my degree is in sports, I play sports for fun and to compete, I watch sports and attend sporting events to enjoy the game and support teams that I feel connected too. Even more so now realizing it as a coach at a high level. The biggest aspect of impact is truly Character. We talk now every day in our program that Character Drives Our Process and the Process Drives Our Results. If we don’t focus on being intentional with developing our character, then whatever process we are working on in life will not come to fruition with the results we are looking for. Sports have helped me learn what is takes to work hard to achieve my goals, to persevere through obstacles, to get back up after failing and try again, to be a leader and a great teammate as we have to effectively and efficiently work together and communicate. Sports has showed me most importantly that anything in life worth achieving will push you out of your comfort zone and is so much better achieving with a family who loves, serves and cares for one another.
Q: What advice would you give to young girls who are just starting off in sports?
The advice I would give to young girls who are just starting off sports is to find the fun in each day you have the opportunity you get to play because you only get to play for so long. Don’t let the pressures to perform or wins and losses take the joy away from the love of the game. Be confident in yourself and your ability, don’t let anyone every tell you that you can’t do something or achieve something. I tell my girls all the time, you can do anything that you believe you can.
Coach Rachel 