Bio

Nicolle Wood was named athletic director in 2020, after having served in an interim role twice previously. Wood has been the head coach of the women's soccer program since 2007, after serving as the assistant coach for a decade prior. During her tenure as an assistant coach she helped the Lady Vikings capture back-to-back (2002 & 2003) ECAC New England championships during that time, and the MASCAC title in 1999 and 2004. She is a 1995 SSU graduate, having played goalkeeper for the Lady Vikings from 1991 through 1994 and was a member of four Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference championship teams. Wood was a member of the women’s soccer during its most successful period, and participated in three NCAA tournaments and one ECAC tournament during her playing days. She is the only SSU player or coach who has played a role in seven of the program's nine MASCAC titles since college added women's varsity soccer at NCAA Division 3 level in 1986.

During her time as head coach, Wood has led teams to the MASCAC play offs 9 times, including as a finalist in her first season and 2018. In 2019 Wood passed the 100 wins mark with the best MASCAC record (5-1-1) since her inaugural season. She was selected in both 2017 and 2019 as the Conference Coach of the Year.

In addition to success on the field, the Vikings have consistently competed as the top SSU academic performer and were awarded the United Soccer Coaches Team Ethics Award of Merit in 2018. Wood, who worked as Director of Programs at High Performance Sports, INC in Peabody for four years prior to taking over the SSU women's program, has been a featured presenter at Massachusetts Youth Soccer conferences and special events, including state-wide meetings, coaching education courses, and Olympic Development Program events. She also served as a head coach for FC Bolts for from 2007-2017.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Wood is also the Coordinator for Student-Athlete Affairs. Wood has also served on many regional and national committees, including the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee for Soccer and the NCAA Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion. In 2015 she was named a finalist for the Giant Steps Award by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports.  Giant Steps Awards are given to individuals who use sport to make positive social change and are leaders for their communities. She is a 1995 cum laude graduate of the SSU Sports, Movement Science program and is currently a member of the NCAA National Soccer Committee.