Coaches

Nick Rizzo

Nick Rizzo is the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a position he has held since the 2020-21 season.


In his first full season in 2021, Rizzo guided the Cardinals to a 13-5-2 overall record, including a 7-3-1 mark in conference play, earning Saint Mary's its first-ever MIAC Tournament berth, and its first post-season appearance since 1994. The Cardinals' 13 wins were the most since the 2005 SMU team finished 13-5-0, and the seven MIAC wins were the most since going 7-2-1 in 1995.


Saint Mary's returned to the MIAC Playoffs in 2022, after compiling a 6-3-2 MIAC mark and an 11-7-2 overall record.


Prior to accepting the position at Saint Mary's, Rizzo spent the last four as the head women's soccer coach at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. During his four years with the Fighting Scots, Rizzo compiled a 41-30-5 record — including a Midwest Conference Tournament title and an NCAA national tournament appearance in 2019.


After going 7-9-2 in his inaugural season at the helm at Monmouth in 2016, the Fighting Scots recorded an 11-8-1 mark in 2017, earning Rizzo the first of two Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors.


Monmouth compiled a 9-8-0 record in Rizzo's third season, before setting a school-record with 14 wins in going 14-5-2 during their national-tournament run in 2019 — a march that earned Rizzo his second NWC Coach of the Year honor.


Under his tutelage, the Fighting Scots have boasted nine all-MWC selections, three all-region picks, two MWC Newcomers of the Year and one MWC Offensive MVP, while also garnering four United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards and boasting a cumulative team GPA of 3.38.


Prior to his tenure at Monmouth, Rizzo spent three years as the assistant soccer coach for both the men's and women's programs at Saint Mary's. Rizzo has also spent time as an assistant coach at both Aurora and Loras.


As a student-athlete, Rizzo was a four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection at Loras College, helping the Duhawks to four NCAA tournaments. Rizzo earned an undergraduate degree in education and mathematics from Loras and completed his master's degree in business administration at Aurora.