Nikki Naccarato was named the head coach of the Saints volleyball program February 2017. She arrives at Maryville after two years at Regis College in Weston, Mass.
“In Nikki, we have found a talented individual who is a natural-born leader of people, has embraced the opportunity and accepted the challenge of building a program at Maryville University,” Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Marcus Manning said. “I am excited Nikki is joining Saints Nation.”
““I am extremely honored and excited to assume the role of head women's volleyball coach at Maryville University,” Naccarato said. “I immediately felt at home on campus and loved the sense of pride that exuded from each person I met. I want to thank Marcus Manning and the search committee for being confident in my abilities and my vision for this volleyball program. I also want to thank Ashlee Brockenbrough for being so welcoming and helpful with the transition. I am ready to join Saints Nation and begin working with this great group of women to take the volleyball program to new heights.”
Naccarato was the interim head women’s head volleyball coach at Regis during the 2016 season and also served as the interim coach for the men’s program heading into the 2017 campaign. She helped guide the Pride women to a 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament bid after winning the New England Collegiate Conference tournament title for the third straight season. Naccarato also coached the NECC Rookie of the Year. In 2015, she worked as the assistant coach at Regis and helped coach the women to its second consecutive NECC championship. Naccarato also helped lead the men's program to the conference semifinals. She was named a recipient of the 2016 AVCA Diversity Award.
As a player, Naccarato was the setter and libero at Division II American International College in Springfield, Mass. She finished her career with 739 assists, 311 digs and earned Northeast-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition all four years. Naccarato also played for the AIC lacrosse team. She earned the AIC Outstanding Sophomore Award and was selected to the 2014 Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Squad.
Naccarato graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology while also minoring in sports administration at AIC. She was the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years and is still a member of the college's alumni board. A native of Wellington, Fla., Naccarato is enrolled in the master's degree program of organizational and professional communications at Regis and is scheduled to earn her degree in May 2017.
