New Assistant Coach Makes Early Impact
9/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Nikita Rivera's time at Southern Miss has helped the soccer team make big strides early in the season.
Coach Mohammed El-Zare appointed Rivera in early August as the team's new assistant coach where she has been specifically working with the goalkeepers, recruiting and film.
"This was a very easy decision for me to make," El-Zare said. "It made it even easier knowing that she has played the position and has coached both men and women at the Division II level. Her personality and character fits well with our girls and fits with the style of play we try to implement here at Southern Miss."
Rivera, a May MBA graduate, was a graduate assistant coach for the women's soccer team at Lincoln Memorial University. While at LMU, Rivera was in charge of the goalkeepers, operations management and had a big role in recruiting.
The experience and growth at LMU gave Rivera the responsibilities and opportunity she would need to make the next step as a coach. Rivera's time with the LMU goalkeepers allowed her to get a young goalkeeper the training and skills in order to win the starting spot in her second season with the team.
Rivera wanted to work with El-Zare and the Golden Eagles because of the opportunities she'd be able to do experience at Southern Miss. The idea of being able to jump right in and get the head-on experience appealed to Rivera.
"The opportunity to take and build a program and help it be more successful and grow from the past seasons was huge for me," Rivera said. "The team atmosphere with the coaches and players was a big part in the decision."
Rivera was a goalkeeper in her playing career and started for Warner Pacific University for her first two years in college. While at WPU, Rivera averaged 1.87 goals against and recorded 189 saved and earned All-Conference accolades in each season.
Due to coaching changes, Rivera transferred to New Mexico Highlands University. NCAA rules required Rivera to sit for the beginning of the soccer season. Once Rivera was allowed to play again, she earned the starting position and helped lead her team to the Conference playoffs in 2013. Rivera career improved to a .83 average goals against and made 79 saves.
Since Rivera has been with the Golden Eagles, the team is off to a 4-1-0 start with one more game remaining before conference play.