Nicole Pauly
Nicole Pauly

Position:
Assistant Coach
Alma Mater:
Northwestern (2010)

Nicole Pauly, a former standout player at Northwestern and current member of the Akron Racers of National Professional Fastpitch, recently completed her first season as a graduate assistant softball coach at Loyola University Chicago. A native of Palatine, Ill., Pauly was a four-time All-Big Ten performer at Northwestern.

In 2011, Pauly's instruction with Loyola's contingent of young hitters was instrumental in the team claiming the Horizon League regular-season championship for the fifth time in the last 11 years. Thanks to Pauly's work with the hitters, the Ramblers established a new single-season school record by belting 41 home runs, shattering the previous mark of 37 set by the 2009 squad, and also matched a single-season school record by recording 16 Horizon League wins in 2011.

During the 2011 campaign, Pauly helped turn a Loyola team that was picked sixth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll into a championship-caliber outfit. Under her tutelage, a crop of Ramblers established career-best offensive numbers and a talented cast of freshmen matured into key contributors that will form the core of the program in coming seasons.

Pauly coached five players who earned All-Horizon League honors in 2011, including First Team selections Brooke Andresen, Lauren Arceneaux and Brittany Gardner, as well as Second Team honorees Olivia Bell and Keali Engelkens. Gardner became the first Rambler to earn League Newcomer of the Year accolades since 1995. Meanwhile, Andresen became the first Loyola player since Yasmin Khan in 1998 and 1999 to bat .300 or better in each of her first two seasons as a Rambler and also is the first Loyola position player to collect First Team All-League accolades in consecutive seasons since Allison Scanlin in 2004 and 2005.

One of the most accomplished players in Northwestern history, Pauly concluded her collegiate career with 53 home runs, 168 RBI, 149 runs scored and a .604 slugging percentage, while starting all 215 games Northwestern played during her four years in Evanston. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Pauly was a 2010 Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V pick.

Also one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which identifies personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, with criteria including community service, excellence in the classroom, outstanding character and competition on the field, Pauly was hailed as a Lowe's All-Senior All-America Second Team choice.

During her senior season in 2010, Pauly hit .289 with nine doubles, 13 homers and 34 RBI.

Pauly graduated from Northwestern in 2010 with a degree in human development and psychological services. She is pursuing her master's degree in school counseling from Loyola.