Nick Papanicolas – Head Coach

Biography

Email - nick.d.papanicolas@wilmu.edu
Office - (302) 356-6757

Nick Papanicolas will enter his ninth season at the helm of the Wilmington University men’s soccer program in 2012. The 2006 and 2009 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year, Papanicolas has led his team to the CACC Tournament in all eight years as head coach. He put together a run in 2007 to the CACC Tournament Championship, and finished the regular season as the number one seed in 2009 while also earning the program’s only bid to the NCAA East Regional Tournament, finishing 15th in the nation. The 2007 campaign was the school’s first CACC title since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in the fall of 2004.

Last season, the Wildcats finished second in the CACC with a 7-2-2 conference record before falling in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinals. After another challenging nonconference schedule that featured two National Semifinalists and three overall NCAA Tournament participants, the Wildcats settled with a 8-7-4 overall record in 2011. The Wildcats dropped a tough 1-0 decision to Franklin Pierce, but defeated Millersville, 4-2, as both teams would advance to the Division II Semifinals.

Papanicolas took over the coaching ranks at Wilmington after one season as an assistant in 2003. He helped the Wildcats return to the top of the conference with a regular season record of 10-7-3 during the team’s provisional season into the NCAA.

Prior to joining the Wilmington team, Papanicolas returned to his alma mater to coach at Division III Rowan University for three seasons (2000-02). During his tenure with the Profs, the team culminated a 58-10-2 overall record. Papanicolas was a three year starter on the soccer team at Rowan where he led the team in scoring during his sophomore season and was captain in his final two years. In his three years as a player, he led the Profs to three NCAA berths and the 1998 Final Four.

Papanicolas holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration. In addition to being the head men’s soccer coach, he works in the University’s Student Life Department.