Florida Atlantic women’s soccer adds Nikki Brown to staff

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Via Florida Atlantic University) – With the 2019 campaign coming quick, the Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team and head coach Patrick Baker are pleased to announce the addition of the program’s new assistant coach, in Nikki Brown.

“I am really excited to join the FAU women’s soccer program for the upcoming season,” said Brown. “Coach Baker has a fantastic reputation in college soccer because of his passion, success, and mentorship in the game. I am fully confident that under his leadership, this team will continue to reach great heights this fall after coming off their best season yet. I am extremely grateful to Coach Baker, Titus Queen, Mary Giardina, and the administration for granting me an opportunity to continue my coaching career at FAU. I can’t wait to get started with the team in August!”

Brown joins FAU from nearly six years as part of the staff at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. She joined the Gamecocks after a fantastic playing career at nearby North Alabama, beginning as a graduate assistant at JSU before eventually taking over the role as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During her time there, Brown recruited players who were recognized with multiple All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, including All-OVC Second Team and All-Newcomer.

“I would like to take the time to thank Neil Macdonald at Jacksonville State University for his guidance and support during the past six years,” added Brown. “I will be always be truly grateful for the experience and knowledge I learned during my time as his assistant coach and I appreciate his encouragement to pursue this fantastic opportunity.”

Also during her coaching career, Brown worked with Northeast Alabama Fusion F.C. as head coach, as the striker director for No. 1 Soccer Camps, and as a head and assistant coach with the Olympic Development Program in Birmingham.

Brown was a three-time Daktronics All-American at North Alabama, twice was named NSCAA All-South Region, and three times to the Daktronics All-South Region First Team as well. All four years, she was an All-Gulf South Conference honoree. She helped lead the Lions to a 2011 GSC Conference Championship, and was as successful off the pitch as on, earning 2011 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American honors, and three times, was a recipient of the GSC “Top Ten” Award.

A native of Bognor Regis, England, Brown earned her undergraduate degree from UNA in physical education, graduating magna cum laude. While serving as JSU’s grad assistant, she completed her master’s work with a 4.0 GPA in sport management. She also completed her United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma in January of 2019.

“We are excited to announce Nikki Brown has accepted an opportunity to join our women’s soccer staff here at FAU,” said Baker. “There was tremendous interest in the position from across the country and we felt fortunate to have so many talented candidates apply. As we narrowed the candidate pool, we felt good about our talks with Nikki and the work she had done with Neil Macdonald while at Jacksonville State University. Nikki is a talented young coach that will bring a wealth of new ideas to our players and staff. We weren’t really looking for something specific to fill the role, but she ultimately checked all the boxes and then some after the interview. She is a good person who has a tremendous work ethic and will be a great role model for our young ladies. Nikki will be a great representative for FAU, the athletic department and the women’s soccer program.”