Northwestern University Athletics
David Nikolic Promoted to Associate Head Coach
3/23/2016 12:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. - Women's soccer assistant coach David Nikolic has been promoted to associate head coach, head coach Michael Moynihan announced Wednesday.
"Working with David is like having another a head coach," Moynihan said. "He has a vast amount of experience and a wonderful presence in front of the team. One of things I truly appreciate about him though, is that he is still curious and always learning. We are very lucky as a program to have him at Northwestern. David has had number of opportunities to become a head coach, so I feel it is important to recognize him as an associate head coach within our program to show our appreciation, as well as to recognize all he does for the program."
Nikolic enters his fifth season with the Northwestern women's soccer program. He came to Evanston after spending the previous 18 seasons alongside Moynihan at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, including nine as the associate head coach.
" I want to thank both Dr. Jim Phillips and Janna Blais for their support and the opportunity to be the associate head coach for the Northwestern women's soccer program," Nikolic said. "I am also honored and grateful to continue the work with Michael Moynihan as we enter our 23rd year coaching together. He is someone who I view as a fantastic role model. I am constantly learning from him and have great respect for his ability to teach. I am confident that we will continue to take steps forward with this program."
In his fourth year on staff, Nikolic helped guide the 2015 Wildcats to a 13-5-2 overall record during the regular-season with seven Big Ten victories – the most since 1998 – and appeared in the NSCAA polls for the first time in 17 years. In tandem with Moynihan, the duo led Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998, and just the third time in program history.
Prior to Northwestern, Nikolic helped Moynihan build UWM into a program that won 12-straight Horizon League titles and made nine NCAA Tournament appearances during their tenure. He was named this year's NSCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year as he helped coach the Panthers to one of their best seasons in program history. During the 2011 campaign, UWM won a school-record 19 matches, made its ninth NCAA appearance and rose as high as No. 10 in the NSCAA Top 25 and No. 9 in the Soccer America national poll.
"David and I have coached together for 23 years now, and prior to that we even go back as far as youth soccer where we played together as U8s," Moynihan said. "We know each other very well and I think we compliment each other wonderfully. We are different on individual levels, but we share the same passion for soccer, a similar view of the game, and a similar philosophy in coaching. The relationship David and I have allows our student-athletes to blossom over their four years with us, growing as students, athletes and young women."
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Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
"Working with David is like having another a head coach," Moynihan said. "He has a vast amount of experience and a wonderful presence in front of the team. One of things I truly appreciate about him though, is that he is still curious and always learning. We are very lucky as a program to have him at Northwestern. David has had number of opportunities to become a head coach, so I feel it is important to recognize him as an associate head coach within our program to show our appreciation, as well as to recognize all he does for the program."
Nikolic enters his fifth season with the Northwestern women's soccer program. He came to Evanston after spending the previous 18 seasons alongside Moynihan at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, including nine as the associate head coach.
" I want to thank both Dr. Jim Phillips and Janna Blais for their support and the opportunity to be the associate head coach for the Northwestern women's soccer program," Nikolic said. "I am also honored and grateful to continue the work with Michael Moynihan as we enter our 23rd year coaching together. He is someone who I view as a fantastic role model. I am constantly learning from him and have great respect for his ability to teach. I am confident that we will continue to take steps forward with this program."
In his fourth year on staff, Nikolic helped guide the 2015 Wildcats to a 13-5-2 overall record during the regular-season with seven Big Ten victories – the most since 1998 – and appeared in the NSCAA polls for the first time in 17 years. In tandem with Moynihan, the duo led Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998, and just the third time in program history.
Prior to Northwestern, Nikolic helped Moynihan build UWM into a program that won 12-straight Horizon League titles and made nine NCAA Tournament appearances during their tenure. He was named this year's NSCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year as he helped coach the Panthers to one of their best seasons in program history. During the 2011 campaign, UWM won a school-record 19 matches, made its ninth NCAA appearance and rose as high as No. 10 in the NSCAA Top 25 and No. 9 in the Soccer America national poll.
"David and I have coached together for 23 years now, and prior to that we even go back as far as youth soccer where we played together as U8s," Moynihan said. "We know each other very well and I think we compliment each other wonderfully. We are different on individual levels, but we share the same passion for soccer, a similar view of the game, and a similar philosophy in coaching. The relationship David and I have allows our student-athletes to blossom over their four years with us, growing as students, athletes and young women."
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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