Mallory Nickelson Named Assistant Volleyball Coach
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Mallory Nickelson has been named an Assistant Coach with the Michigan Tech volleyball team, Head Coach Matt Jennings announced on Wednesday (Feb. 22). Nickelson was a four-year starting libero and setter at future GLIAC member Roosevelt University and was recently an assistant coach for two seasons at UW-Stevens Point.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and thrilled to be joining the Huskies at Michigan Tech," Nickelson said. "Matt's a fantastic coach with a lot of historical success, and I'm excited to learn from him. I can't wait to help this program grow, and I'm honored to lead such a great group of women."
Nickelson was an assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point under Lyndsay Kooi. The Pointers were 52-16 overall and went to the NCAA Tournament both seasons, advancing in 2022 while also being WIAC Tournament runners-up earlier that season.
As a student-athlete, Nickelson played for former Michigan Tech assistant coach Nic Paquiz at Roosevelt. She was the team captain in 2020-21 and graduated with the second-most assists in school history. She was an all-conference selection in 2019, a three-time academic all-conference team member, and received the 2021 Roosevelt University Presidential Award for Social Justice. Nickelson set the single-match school record for assists with 68 in a five-set win over Indiana South Bend in 2019, earning her NAIA National Player of the week.
"We are all so happy and grateful to have Mallory joining us," Jennings said. "We've been blessed with some really dedicated assistant coaches on staff here, each one has made an important and distinct impact on our program. I'm excited that Mallory will be the next one up to help make a difference for our student-athletes and Husky volleyball in general.
"Mallory brings a strong and dynamic experience with her that I know will resonate with our players and make us a better team. She's played for and coached with some really knowledgeable and talented teachers of the game, which has prepared her well for her time with us. Her commitment to making the student-athlete experience a positive and successful one for her players really stood out as we were getting to know Mallory, and I know the team is really looking forward to having her on board and here working with us."
Nickelson coached and developed student-athletes at UW-Stevens Point who earned First Team and Honorable Mention All-America honors, the WIAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, and multiple all-conference selections. She assisted in all areas of the Pointers' program and specialized in training defenders and setters while also recruiting, planning team travel, player development, opponent scouting, and academic advising.
Nickelson coached three years at the club level and was the head coach of the 17 National Team at Wisconsin Ice Volleyball Club out of Stevens Point for two seasons. She also spent a season with the 15s group at New Wave Volleyball Club out of Darien, Illinois.
At Roosevelt, Nickelson earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Journalism and Media Studies & English with a minor in Integrated Marketing Communications in December 2020. She finished a Master's of Science from UW-Stevens Point in Community and Organizational Leadership in May 2023 where she worked on programming focused on student-athletes in their final year making the transition out of college sports.
"More than anything, I trust Mallory and feel that she's going to be a really solid mentor and guide for our student-athletes," added Jennings. "She's the kind of person you want your players learning from and being around. I get the sense that Mallory is coaching for the right reasons, which to me, is a strong indicator of the kind of coach she is going to be for our team. I'm super grateful for Mallory's trust in us and am happy to have her here as a Husky in Houghton."