DUDLEY, Mass. (May 26) – Nichols College Director of Athletics Charlyn Robert has promoted Damir Pesa to head women's soccer coach, it was announced Wednesday. Pesa was previously an assistant coach with the women's soccer program for the last three seasons and also serves as the head women's lacrosse coach. He replaces Bob Fuqua, who headed the women's soccer program for the last four seasons.

 “We are very excited to have Coach Pesa at the helm of both the women's soccer and women's lacrosse programs,” said Robert. “Not only is he a solid tactician for both sports,  but he is a proven recruiter for the College. As the assistant soccer coach, he has been instrumental in positioning the program for success within The Commonwealth Coast conference.”

Prior to coming to Nichols, Pesa served as an assistant women's soccer 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, twice bringing the teams to the state tournament after winning the state title as a player in 2002. He coached the Bay State West Team to the Gold Medal in the summer of 2006. Pesa has also served as the head coach for the Western Massachusetts Junior Pioneers U-16 girls' team and currently coaches the FC Napoli U-10 girls' team.

“I am very grateful to have this opportunity to grow with the women's soccer program and Nichols College,” said Pesa. “This program is in a good place to make some noise in the TCCC next year. I think we've laid a good foundation for future success and I'm looking forward to working with our committed student-athletes who have demonstrated hard work both on the field and in the classroom.”

Pesa played soccer for Holyoke Community College from 2002-04, helping lead the school to a state championship and two regional finals. A native of Bosnia, he was previously a center midfielder for FK Jetinstvo in his home country. Pesa is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and holds both an Advanced Regional License and State Level License.

Named the seventh head coach of the women's lacrosse program in the summer of 2009, Pesa guided the Bison to tie the program record for single-season wins in his first season at the helm of the program.