St. Thomas Aquinas Athletic Director Gerald Oswald has announced the promotion of Nicole Ballou as Assistant Director of Athletics/ Head Women's Soccer Coach.  As Assistant Director of Athletics, Ballou's main responsibilities will be to assist in the day to day operations of the athletic department as well as act as the moderator of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).  

Ballou joined the St. Thomas Aquinas staff in July as the assistant women's basketball coach after four years of coaching at the college level.  She was the top assistant for the women's basketball team at her alma mater New Jersey Institute of Technology after a success playing career.

In her first month at STAC she was named the Head Coach for the men's and women's cross country team.  In her first season the cross country team saw great success with the men's squad finishing third in the conference. 

Ballou will now take her Division II college playing and coaching successes to the sidelines of the Lady Spartans women's soccer program.     As the head soccer coach she will continue to recruit quality student athletes while focusing on the growth of the program.  "Nicole will be a great asset to our women's soccer program. Having a full-time coach will make a difference and the support she will be able to give our student-athletes will be invaluable," commented Oswald.

At New Jersey Institute of Technology, Ballou was a four year starting point guard for the Lady Highlanders.  The standout athlete also participated on the women's soccer and tennis teams.  She was a three sport athlete at Notre Dame High School in Staten Island where she won numerous post season awards. 

Ballou is also a certified personal trainer and spent one year working for Plus One Heath Management at Merrill Lynch.  She is a current member of the New York Road Runners club, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).