Nicholas Petrucelli has been named assistant coach for the Southern Methodist University (SMU) women’s soccer team, according to a May 21 announcement from head coach Nicole Nelson.
The addition of Petrucelli is notable as he brings experience from both collegiate and professional soccer, including his recent tenure with Dallas Trinity FC in the Gainbridge Super League. Nelson said, “We are very excited to welcome Nick back to the Hilltop. As a former student-athlete, he has an incredible passion for SMU. He has experience in the ACC and the Gainbridge Super League and brings a level of coaching expertise to our team that will immensely benefit our student-athletes as we continue to build something special at SMU.”
Petrucelli returns after serving two seasons as an assistant coach at Dallas Trinity FC, where he helped guide the club to playoff berths in both years of its existence. In his first season with Trinity FC, the club finished third overall in its inaugural season. He also played a role in supporting former Mustang Allie Thornton, who won the league’s Golden Boot award by scoring 13 goals during one season.
Before joining Trinity FC, Petrucelli was an assistant coach at Louisiana for two seasons and contributed to helping the Ragin’ Cajuns reach the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2023. His earlier roles included serving on staff at Miami as Director of Operations for women’s soccer and coaching at Ransom Everglades School in Florida, where he helped lead them to a state title match and earn national recognition.
Petrucelli began his coaching career at SMU as an undergraduate assistant for women’s soccer after playing two seasons on the men’s team. During his time assisting with women’s soccer operations, SMU achieved double-digit wins and posted positive results against top-25 opponents.
Reflecting on his return, Petrucelli said, “SMU is a special place, so I want to thank Nicole for giving me the opportunity to come back to my Alma Mater. I am very excited to get back to the Hilltop and get to work.” The hiring underscores SMU’s commitment toward strengthening its coaching staff with alumni who have gained diverse experiences elsewhere.
