DUDLEY, Mass. – Nichols College Director of Athletics Charlyn Robert has announced two coaching changes. Kristan Mallet has been named the head coach of the softball program after serving as the women’s lacrosse head coach for the past three seasons; she is also the Bison’s head field hockey coach. Damir Pesa has been promoted to head coach of the women’s lacrosse program after serving as an assistant coach in the 2009 campaign; he also serves as an assistant women’s soccer coach.
“I am very pleased to name Kristan Mallet as our next head softball coach,” said Robert. “Kristan brings extensive softball coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. The softball program has recently been privileged to three very successful seasons and Coach Mallet will certainly continue to build upon this foundation. She has done an excellent job at the helm of the field hockey program, taking the team into the conference tournament all three years while also building a young women’s lacrosse program.”
“Damir Pesa was introduced to Nichols College as a talented and hard working assistant women’s soccer coach,” continued Robert. “Little did he realize that his talent and dedication would position him to be introduced to coaching women’s lacrosse as well for the Bison. I have been very impressed with his work ethic and foundational style of coaching. Damir is the right person to take our women’s lacrosse program to the next level of competition within The Commonwealth Coast Conference.”
Mallet becomes the 15th head coach in the softball program’s 31-year history, replacing Steve Ross, who resigned at the end of the 2009 season. The Bison softball program is historically one of the best at Nichols, with an overall record of 431-373-5 (.536), second only to women’s soccer, which began in 1991.
“I’m looking forward to picking up where the season left off and continuing the winning tradition that Nichols College has created,” said Mallet. “It will be an exciting change to get back into coaching softball and I look forward to work with a tremendous group of student-athletes who strive for the same goals as myself.”
In three seasons at the helm of the field hockey program, Mallet has guided the Bison to three-straight The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament appearances and to the 2008 ECAC semifinals. She served as the co-head coach of the women’s lacrosse program in 2007 and 2008, leading Nichols to its first-ever appearance in the TCCC tournament. In May of 2008, Mallet was announced as the sole head coach of the program.
Prior to coming to Nichols, Mallet served as the head field hockey and softball coach at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Mass., for five years. She guided the squad to five consecutive Western Mass tournament appearances and to the 2001 Western Mass. title and a state runner-up finish. She was previously an assistant coach for field hockey, softball and women’s basketball at Elms College in Chicopee, Mass.
Pesa, who assumes his first collegiate head coaching position, assisted Mallet with Nichols’ young women’s lacrosse team this past spring and has helped guide the women’s soccer program to the TCCC Tournament in two seasons with the Bison. He becomes the seventh head coach in program history.
“I’m excited to begin my career as a head coach at Nichols College,” said Pesa. “It is a tremendous opportunity to grow with this young program and to build on the energy level these student-athletes have demonstrated both on and off the field.”
Prior to coming to Nichols, Pesa served as an assistant coach at Holyoke Community College from 2005-2007, guiding the Cougars to the 2007 NJCAA Region 21 Championship. Pesa was also a head coach with the John Boyle O'Reilly Club, coaching both the U-18 and U-16 boys' teams for four years. He coached the Bay State West Team to the Gold Medal in the summer of 2006. Pesa also served as an assistant coach for the Western Massachusetts Junior Pioneers U-16 girls' team.
Pesa played soccer for Holyoke Community College from 2002-04, helping lead the school to a state championship and two regional finals. He is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and holds both an Advanced Regional License and State Level License.
The women’s lacrosse team became a varsity sport in 2000, first qualifying for the TCCC Championship Tournament in 2007 with a 4-9 record.