David Nolan Takes Over as New CMS Women's Soccer Head Coach

CLAREMONT, Calif. – David Nolan, who served as the associate head coach at Pomona-Pitzer during its 2019 NCAA Division III Final Four run, has been named the new head coach for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer program for the 2022 season, director of athletics Erica Perkins Jasper announced today.

Nolan spent seven years with the Pomona-Pitzer women's soccer program, during which time the Sagehens won three SCIAC titles, made four NCAA appearances, and reached the Elite Eight in 2016, before going one step further and making the Final Four in 2019. As the associate head coach, Nolan had the opportunity to take on an expanded role with the day-to-day operations of the program throughout the 2019 season, while head coach Jen Scanlon was also serving as Pomona-Pitzer's interim athletic director.

In addition to his experience at Pomona-Pitzer, Nolan joins CMS with two years of collegiate head coaching experience under his belt, after taking over the helm at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California in May of 2020. Before he came on board, William Jessup had a 3-14 record in 2019, and then struggled to a 2-9-1 mark in his first season in 2020 during a limited schedule coming out of the COVID pandemic.

However, Nolan quickly turned around the program's fortunes with an 18-player recruiting class that helped the Warriors to a 9-5-3 mark in 2021, including an 11-game unbeaten streak. William Jessup also earned the program's first-ever conference tournament playoff berth, where it tied The Master's University, before falling on penalty kicks.

"We are thrilled to welcome David Nolan back to Claremont as the new head coach of our women's soccer program," said Perkins Jasper. "Pomona-Pitzer had unprecedented success while he was on their coaching staff, and his team's quick turnaround at William Jessup is further evidence of his ability to have a positive impact on his programs. The selection committee was impressed with his passion for creating an incredible student-athlete experience. We are excited at what Coach Nolan will bring to our department and campuses."

"Coming back and being a part of the 5C community again is very exciting," Nolan said. "It is an environment that I love. CMS women's soccer has a storied history in the SCIAC, and my plan is to come in and continue that tradition. William Jessup and Pomona-Pitzer both have given me the experience needed to hit the ground running here at CMS. I want to thank Jen Scanlon, who has been an integral part of my career, for mentoring me and giving me the opportunity to grow as a coach in the college game. Farnum Smith was also a big influence on my time at William Jessup. He supported and allowed me to build a successful program at WJU in such a short time."

While coaching at Pomona-Pitzer, Nolan also had outside coaching experience as the head boys' soccer coach at San Juan Hills High School from 2018-2020, as the assistant director of coaching with the San Clemente Surf Soccer Club from 2012-2020, and with the US Soccer Youth Training center as a clinic coach from 2016-18.

"We are thrilled to welcome David to CMS as a member of our physical education faculty and as the head coach for Athena soccer," said Heather Antecol, vice president for academic affairs, dean of the faculty, and Boswell Professor of Economics at Claremont McKenna, who assisted with the search process. "David's coaching and teaching philosophy are impressive, and we are excited about what he can bring to our soccer program and to all our students through his PE courses."

Originally from Dundalk, Ireland, Nolan came to the United States and played collegiate soccer for two seasons at California Baptist University and two seasons at La Sierra University, where he served as a team captain. He also earned the La Sierra Golden Eagle Award for being the top male athlete, as well as the Sportsmanship Award.

"I am extremely excited to welcome David Nolan to the CMS family as head coach of the Athenas soccer team," said Charles Dean, assistant athletic trainer at CMS, who served on the search committee. "He exuded the confidence, passion, and desire to bringing the best out of the Athenas. He has thrived at all of his previous institutions and based on his excitement to return to the SCIAC, this time as a head coach, he knows our team can reach new heights of success."

Nolan earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from La Sierra in 2013. He went on to earn a master's degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in Irvine in 2018.

"I really want to thank Erica Jasper, Nikki Ayers and the rest of the search committee for putting their trust in me to run the women's soccer program here at CMS," Nolan said. "Getting to know Erica during this process, and seeing the excitement and passion she has for the continued growth of this department has really made me excited to be a part of it all."