AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's Athletics welcomes Kat Nichols to the Hilltop as the new assistant women's soccer coach, head women's soccer coach Nick Cowell announced.
"We're thrilled to welcome Kat Nichols to the Hilltop and St. Edward's Women's Soccer family. Kat brings a wealth of experience from both the collegiate and club levels, including her recent work at Pittsburg State and years of impactful leadership at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club," Cowell says. "She has a deep commitment to player development and a proven track record in mentoring young women on and off the field.
"Her expertise with goalkeepers and defenders, her passion for teaching, and her eye for recruiting will be invaluable as we continue building a championship-level program. Kat's energy, professionalism, and ability to connect with student-athletes make her a perfect fit for our culture of excellence, unity, and growth."
Nichols joins the Hilltop after serving as an assistant coach specializing in the defensive backline and goalkeepers for Pittsburg State, which produced four all-conference players in the program's first season last year.
Before that, she served as the director of coaching and college liaison for the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club. In her time leading the college liaison program, she helped place over 35 girls on college teams at various levels. Vestavia Hills won state championships in 2023, 2018, and 2016, were national cup qualifiers in 2021, and SCCL champions in 2019.
Nichols played centre back at Samford University for four years, earning a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2005.
"It is an honor to join the women's soccer program at St. Edward's University. I feel privileged to work within a program that values both athletic and academic excellence," Nichols says. "I am thankful to Nick for entrusting me with this opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the team."
St. Edward's women's soccer posted a 9-7-3 record last season, including 7-5-1 in Lone Star Conference play. The Hilltoppers open the season on September 4 at Colorado Mesa University.
