Nicole Gervais is the associate head coach for the women’s soccer team. Her coaching experience includes all kinds of teams, from preschool through college, both boys/men and girls/women. Gervais also works in other offices on campus including the Alumni & Field Relations and the Abroad office. For the abroad office she serves as and RC for trips having been to Slovenia/Croatia/Bosnia, St. Lucia/Grenada, and Ireland for amazing abroad experiences.“Like many children of the late 70s, I started playing soccer at age 5 for the “Roses” in AYSO – a point in time that would clearly be life-altering. And so a life-changing experience it because with the poignant parts being the great snacks and Hawaiian punch. As the years went on and I had picked up other sports as well, I ultimately had to make choices. Whenever that was required, soccer won out. I played club and high school ball in southern California which meant I was working with a coach and playing soccer practically 365 days a year and loving it. When college came around, playing at Principia was the best choice I could have ever made.

I was part of the Principia College women’s soccer program for 10 falls before leaving to coach elsewhere. I used 5 seasons to use all of my eligibility due to injury my senior year, and learned I loved to coach that year. I stayed on as the assistant for 5 years afterwards and watched the team get stronger and stronger. When I wasn’t coaching college women, I took the rest of the year to coach literally every age – preschool age kids, elementary AYSO, a middle school team and training high school age club teams.When I left Principia, I became the head coach at Whittier College in southern California. It was a challenging time, but nothing I wasn’t prepared for. 

Education

• MSS, Sports Coaching, United States Sports Academy
• BA, Principia College

Awards

• Coach of the Year, Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, CA, 2015
• Principia College Hall of Fame, 2012
• Divisional Employee of the Year, Athletics, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, 2009
• St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, 2007

Memberships and Affiliations

• National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Advanced National diploma