Mike "Nico" Nicholson

Michael "Nico" Nicholson came to Alcalá Park after serving as an assistant coach to the University of California, San Diego women's soccer program from 1994-2005. During his stint with UCSD, the Tritons captured three NCAA Division II and three NCAA Division III national championships.

From 2003-05, Nicholson was also the director of the Temecula/Murrieta Soccer Club and from 1998 to 2003, he acted as the Head Boy's Coach for the San Diego Surf. Many of the club teams at the Surf achieved Regional and State success and many of his players were placed on national teams. In 1994, he coached the Nomads Boy's Under 16 club that won a national championship. In addition to his tremendous wealth of coaching experience, Nicholson also spent time with the United Systems of Independent Soccer League, a men's semi-professional league. He played three seasons for the San Diego Top Guns from 1993-95 and guided his team to the Regional Finalists in 1994 and 1995.

Nicholson graduated from the University of Leeds in England, where he earned a degree in Sports Science in 1989. He captained his soccer team to the national finals in 1989 and his team won the national championship in 1986.