Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX 75275

Texas South

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Nicole Nelson

A veteran of more than 20 years of coaching, Nicole Nelson returned to the Hilltop as Head Women's Soccer Coach for the 2022 season. Nelson previously served eight seasons as an assistant coach at SMU, serving under former National Coach of the Year Chris Petrucelli.

Nelson led SMU to an 11-6-1 record in her second season as head coach of the Mustangs, including a 5-3-1 mark in conference play. Nelson helped take SMU to its second consecutive AAC Tournament Final after finishing third in the conference's regular season. The Mustangs went 4-1-1 at Washburne Stadium, including a ranked win over No. 25 Tennessee and a 1-0 shutout victory over Oklahoma State. SMU received votes in five of the United Soccer Coaches Poll throughout the season in which the Mustangs recorded six shutouts and held opponents to one or fewer goals in 13 matches. Freshman Nyah Rose was named AAC-Co Rookie of the Year and All-AAC after finishing second in the conference with 11 goals. Peyton Annen was named to the All-AAC Second Team, with freshman Emma Alvord joining Rose on the AAC's All-Rookie Team.

In Nelson's first season as head coach at SMU, the Mustangs finished 10-4-5, reaching the AAC Tournament Final for the first time since 2016. The Mustangs were undefeated out of conference with a 5-0-3 mark and were as high as No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The program set season records for goals against average (0.68) and save percentage (.854). Courtney Sebazco was a Hermann Trophy candidate and AAC Midfielder of the Year. Jewel Boland and Julissa Cisneros were All-AAC Second Team while Peyton Annen made the AAC All-Freshman Team.

Nelson spent eight seasons as an Associate Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the Mustangs from 2012-2019 before founding Nicole Nelson High-Performance Consulting. As a High-Performance Consultant & Crucial Competencies Coach, she specialized in serving high-performance coaches, athletic administrators and athletes who are self-motivated to improve performance, exceed perceived limitations, embody their full potential, and positively impact others while doing so.

In addition to her coaching career at SMU, Nelson has served as an adjunct faculty member for SMU Sport Performance Leadership and earned a Master's Certificate in Executive Leadership Coaching and Conflict Management. Outside of SMU, she worked as a talent scout for US Soccer Identification Centers and Development Academy.

In 2019 on the Hilltop, Nelson helped SMU to its fourth-straight 10-plus-win season, notching a 12-7-1 record, including a draw with No. 25 Oklahoma State, and helping SMU to a ranking as high as No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Mustangs made an appearance in the postseason at the AAC tournament semifinal match. Player highlights for SMU included two All-AAC First-Team picks, two All-AAC All-Rookie choices and two All-AAC All-Tournament Team selections in addition to a CoSIDA Academic All-District First-Team honoree.

In 2018, Nelson assisted SMU to a ranking as high as No. 18. Three athletes received All-American Athletic Conference honors, including Allie Thornton with a First-Team selection and Courtney Sebazco with the Rookie of the Year honor. In 2017, the Mustangs reached No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, the first time being ranked since 2006. SMU finished the season with three wins against top-25 teams (No. 17 Arkansas, No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 21 Cincinnati). The Mustangs also advanced to the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal for the fourth time in five seasons. Four student-athletes earned AAC honors, including Claire Oates and Allie Thornton, who were named to the All-AAC First and Second Teams, respectively. Freshmen Hannah Allred and Isabelle Nashmi were named to The American All-Rookie Team.

In 2016, Nelson helped lead the Mustangs to a 13-7-2 overall record en route to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006, as well as runner-up honors at the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Five student-athletes were named to AAC All-Conference teams, including Vanessa Valadez and Thornton, who earned First-Team honors. Following the AAC Championship, four members were named to the AAC All-Tournament Team. In 2014, Nelson helped guide freshman Claire Oates to conference Rookie of the Year honors and Second-Team All-Conference accolades.

Before coming to SMU, Nelson served as the head coach at Oklahoma from 2007 to 2011. During her time at OU, Nelson led the Sooners to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010 as she was named co-Big 12 Coach of the Year. That year, the team ended with the highest Big 12 finish in program history (T-3rd) and advanced to the Big 12 championship game, making it the first time that the program advanced past the first round. She coached players to numerous all-conference and all-region honors as well as several academic awards and had three athletes drafted to professional programs.

In July 2010, Nelson worked as a U.S. Soccer Region III age group coach. She was a member of the Olympic Development Program for Region III for nine years and served as the head coach of the US Soccer Region III '97 Age Group from July 2010-May 2013. Nelson took the team to events in Costa Rica and on a European Tour in March of 2013, where the team played games in Germany and Switzerland.

Nelson spent two years as an assistant at Texas (2006-07) under Petrucelli, where she served as the recruiting coordinator. She helped coach a Longhorn team that won back-to-back postseason Big 12 Championships in 2006 and 2007, and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 both years. In 2005, Nelson served as the recruiting coordinator and an assistant coach at Baylor.

Prior to her time at Baylor, Nelson served as the head coach of the Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team (2002-2004), leading the team to two Southland Conference Championships. In her second year at the helm, Nelson's Jacks won the conference tournament and made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003. In 2004, SFA won the regular season Southland Championship and Nelson was named the conference coach of the year for the second consecutive season. She led 25 student-athletes to All-SLC honors over three seasons and left the Jacks with the most wins in program history. Nelson served as an assistant at SFA during the 2001 season.

Before she started her career in coaching, Nelson played semi-professional soccer for the Austin Lonestars (W-League). Following that stint, she worked with numerous clubs and camps before taking her first position in the collegiate ranks as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater in 2000-01.

As a player, Nelson started every game and was the team captain in 1995, 1996 and 1997 at Oklahoma City University under Brian Harvey. Nelson was a three-time All-Sooner Athletic Conference member and Academic All-American. She began her collegiate career at Texas A&M University as a freshman and concluded it at OCU as an All-American (honorable mention).

Nelson earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish in 1997 at Oklahoma City University, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. She received her Master's degree in Kinesiology from Stephen F. Austin in May 2005.

Nelson and her wife, Lee Ann Riley, reside in Dallas.

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Mat Cosgriff

Mat Cosgriff is in his tenth season (2023) on the Hilltop after being named as an associate head coach/goalkeepers coach for the SMU’s women’s soccer team in April of 2014.

SMU is 91-67-19 in his tenure on the Hilltop. Since 2016, Cosgriff has helped SMU to a 79-43-16 record with two trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a win over Texas in the 2021 NCAA first round at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. The Mustangs have double-digit wins in seven of the past eight seasons. SMU has shut out 53 of 138 opponents since the 2016 season, including 10 shutouts in 2021, eight in 2022 and six in 2023. SMU has a 32-24-7 record in American Athletic Conference play since 2016. SMU reached the AAC Championship final in 2016, 2022 and 2023.

Since Cosgriff joined the staff, the Mustangs have accumulated nine NSCAA All-Region Team selections, 21 All-American Athletic Conference honors and 14 spots on the AAC All-Rookie teams.

Cosgriff was an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Washington State from 2012-14. During his tenure, he helped the development of one Pac-12 Player of the Year and six Pac-12 all-conference selections. In 2013, Washington State was seventh nationally in both goals allowed and goals against average and sixth in the nation in shutouts. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both 2012 and 2013. His athletes excelled both on and off the pitch, as 21 Cougars earned Pac-12 all-academic honors and the teams averaged a 3.23 GPA.

Cosgriff was an assistant at South Carolina from 2003-11, where he worked with goalkeepers and assisted in all aspects of the program. He mentored the careers of three of the top seven goalkeepers for goals against average in Southeastern Conference history.

For three-straight seasons (2009-11), South Carolina had the SEC’s top defensive unit and Cosgriff’s goalkeepers own the top-five goals against averages in Gamecocks’ history. South Carolina participated in the NCAA Championship each of the last-five seasons Cosgriff was on staff. The Gamecocks won the 2009 SEC Tournament title and advanced to the sweet 16, and the 2011 squad won the SEC regular season crown.

Prior to South Carolina, Cosgriff was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Maine, his alma mater, from 2002-03. He graduated (2002) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

A native of Lebanon, N.H., Cosgriff played for the Vermont Voltage of the Premier Development League from 2000-01. He also played at Maine for four years, starting at goalkeeper and serving as team captain.

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Kevin Hudson

Kevin Hudson was named the fourth head coach in the program's history on Jan. 9, 2015. Hudson spent seven seasons as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2014 season after returning to the Hilltop in 2007.

During Hudson's 18 years on the Hilltop, the Mustangs have reached the NCAA Tournament on ten occasions, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in 2010 and 2019.

The Mustangs have amassed a 103-41-17 (.693) record during Hudson's tenure as head coach.

Most recently, Hudson and the rest of the SMU coaching staff were recognized as the 2023 American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Round of Sixteen and won the AAC regular season outright. Two members of the SMU roster were named as Hermann Trophy semifinalists and four were All American selections.

During the 2022 season, the Mustangs finished with a 10-6-1 overall record. SMU finished 6-3 in AAC play and finished the regular season in second place. Hudson's 2022 squad saw six of its members named to All-American Athletic Conference teams. Knut Ahlander was named the leagues Offensive and Midfielder of the Year and Alexander Petraeus was crowned the Rookie of the Year. Mads Westergren and Ahlander were selected to the All-AAC First Team and JP Jordan and Petraeus were selected to the conference's Second Team. Nikola Djordjevic, Fredrik Skilberg and Petraeus earned All-Rookie Team nods. Ahlander was selected as a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. In addition, the graduate student was named a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American. Ahlander and Petraeus were recognized by United Soccer Coaches as members of All-East Region teams. Ahlander was named to the First Team, while Petraeus notched a spot on the Second Team. SMU earned its 34th appearance in the NCAA tournament and fifth since Hudson took over the program. The Mustangs entered as the No. 11 overall seed and finished top 15 in the country in assists per game, points per game and scoring offense.

In 2021, SMU finished with an 8-5-3 record. The Mustangs put together a solid start to the season, going unbeaten in nonconference, including a top ten victory over then-No. 8 Stanford to open the season. The Mustangs were 5-4-1 in the AAC, earning a third-place finish. Four athletes were named as members of All-East Region teams, including senior standouts Knut Ahlander and Gabriel Costa, were named to the Second Team, while Papa Ndoye and Brandon Terwege notched spots on the Third Team. In addition, six members of the squad were named to All-American Athletic Conference teams. Hudsons team took care of business inside the classroom, with 13 student-athletes earning a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.

During the 2020 season, postponed to Spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SMU finished with a 5-5-1 record. The conference-only slate saw the Mustangs finish at the No. 1 spot in the AAC for goals (24), assists (18) and shots (186). In Hudson's sixth season at the helm, he and his staff developed a team that included the AAC Co-Midfielder of the Year, Knut Ahlander, and six All-Conference selections. Heading into the season, Gabriel Costa and Papa Ndoye were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, while Ahlander and Costa earned unanimous Preseason All-Conference nods. Three standouts from the 2019 team were selected in the MLS SuperDraft at the beginning of 2021 as Nicky Hernandez was picked 15th overall by FC Dallas, Brandon Terwege was taken 57th overall by Houston Dynamo FC and Talen Maples was 72nd overall by Toronto FC.

In 2019, the Mustangs won their third consecutive American Athletic Conference tournament championship after beating UCF for the third straight year. The Mustangs climbed as high as No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 2 in Top Drawer Soccer after starting the year 10-0-0. SMU earned its 32nd NCAA berth, earning the No. 8 overall national seed and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals where it fell to No. 1 Virginia. Hudson's staff produced five All-AAC selections, including the league's midfielder and defensive players of the year. In the regular season, the Mustangs earned 11 AAC weekly honors, and two United Soccer Coaches national players of the week and a MAC Hermann semifinalist. The 2019 squad developed three All-Americans in Eddie Munjoma, Gabriel Costa and Garrett McLaughlin. The Mustangs had three student-athletes receive invites to the MLS College Showcase, tied for the most in the country - and Garrett McLaughlin was selected 8th overall by the Houston Dynamo in the first round of the MLS Super Draft. A few weeks later, Eddie Munjoma would sign a homegrown contract with FC Dallas, and Philip Ponder would ink a deal with North Texas SC.

In 2018, the Mustangs repeated as American Athletic Conference champions, marking the second time in league history that a team has won back-to-back conference championships. SMU earned its 31st berth to the NCAA tournament and the third berth in Hudson's tenure. During 2018, Hudson and his staff developed seven All-AAC selections, three All-Region players, four All-Academic team players and five AAC players of the week. Two of his players went on to play professionally after their time at SMU, including Emil Cuello, who was invited to the MLS Combine and was selected 19th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.

In 2017, Hudson led the Mustangs to win both the American Athletic Conference regular season title and the conference tournament title, the first sweep in conference history. His staff was named 2017 Coaching Staff of the Year by the AAC. SMU made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second time in Hudson’s young head coaching career.

In his first year as head coach, Hudson's team claimed the 2015 American Athletic Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Hudson and his coaching staff were named the 2015 AAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

On the field, Hudson has helped mentor seven United Soccer Coaches All-America selections and 26 All-Region honorees. At the conference level, five student-athletes have been selected as Player of the Year and 39 have been recognized as all-conference competitors.

In eight seasons as head coach of the Mustangs, Hudson has coached two MAC Hermann semifinalists, three United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Americans, the 2015 and 2022 AAC offensive player of the year, 2016 and 2022 AAC rookie of the year, 2017 AAC defensive player of the year, three-time AAC goalkeeper of the year, 2019 AAC defensive player of the year, 2019 AAC midfielder of the year and the 2020 and 2022 co-midfielder of the year.

In the classroom, there have been two NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches Scholar-Athlete All-America selections, four CoSIDA Academic All-America honorees, 15 CoSIDA All-District selections, 13 C-USA Academic Medal recipients, and 59 all-conference academic team award winners during Hudson’s time on the Hilltop. The Mustangs were also awarded the 2014-15 and 2015-16 AAC Team Academic Excellence Award for the highest team GPA in the conference.

Hudson was a standout student-athlete with the Mustangs from 2000-03 and was a member of SMU's 2000 College Cup team. In 2003, Hudson was an NSCAA/adidas All-Midwest Region First Team selection, as well as an All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team honoree. During his senior season, he was named to CollegeSoccerNews.com's National Team of the Week on two occasions, and he was also selected as the MVC Tournament MVP that same season. Hudson was selected as the 44th pick by DC United in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

For his efforts in the classroom, Hudson received CoSIDA Academic All-America First-Team honors, and was twice named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete squad. He also earned the MVC President's Academic Excellence award in 2001.

Hudson graduated magna cum laude from SMU with a bachelor's degree in business administration (finance) and a bachelor's degree in psychology in May, 2004. Upon graduation, Hudson worked for Ernst & Young, LLP, as a senior auditor and transaction advisory specialist. Hudson graduated from University of Notre Dame magna cum laude with a master's degree in the science of accountancy (MSA) in August, 2005.

He holds a USSF A coaching license.

Hudson and his wife, Christina, live in Dallas, and have two daughters, Ella and Allie.

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Ben Stoddard

Ben Stoddard recent finished his sixth season on the Hilltop in 2023 as the Associate Head Coach for the Mustangs.

Most recently, Stoddard and the rest of the SMU coaching staff were recognized as the 2023 American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Round of Sixteen and won the AAC regular season outright. Two members of the SMU roster were named as Hermann Trophy semifinalists and four were All American selections.

During the 2022 season, the Mustangs finished with a 10-6-1 overall record. SMU finished 6-3 in AAC play and finished the regular season in second place. Six student-athletes were named to All-American Athletic Conference teams. Knut Ahlander was named the leagues Offensive and Midfielder of the Year and Alexander Petraeus was crowned the Rookie of the Year. Mads Westergren and Ahlander were selected to the All-AAC First Team and JP Jordan and Petraeus were selected to the conference's Second Team. Nikola Djordjevic, Fredrik Skilberg and Petraeus earned All-Rookie Team nods. SMU earned its 34th appearance in the NCAA tournament and the third since Stoddard’s been with the program. The Mustangs entered as the No. 11 overall seed and finished top 15 in the country in assists per game, points per game and scoring offense.

In 2021, SMU finished with an 8-5-3 record. The Mustangs put together a solid start to the season, going unbeaten in nonconference, including a top ten victory over then-No. 8 Stanford to open the season. The Mustangs were 5-4-1 in the AAC, earning a third-place finish. Four athletes were named as members of All-East Region teams, including senior standouts Knut Ahlander and Gabriel Costa, were named to the Second Team, while Papa Ndoye and Brandon Terwege notched spots on the Third Team. In addition, six members of the squad were named to All-American Athletic Conference teams.

During the 2020 season that was postponed to Spring of 2021, Stoddard's third with the team, SMU finished with a 5-5-1 record. The conference-only slate saw the Mustangs finish at the No. 1 spot in the AAC for goals (24), assists (18) and shots (186). Stoddard helped develop a team that included the AAC Co-Midfielder of the Year, Knut Ahlander, and six All-Conference selections.

In his second year in Dallas, Stoddard helped lead the team to its third consecutive AAC conference tournament championship and the program's first trip to the NCAA Elite Eight since 2010. He helped develop a team that scored 63 goals, the second most in the country, led by a pair of United Soccer Coaches All-America selections in Eddie Munjoma and Gabriel Costa. He also helped to produce two AAC players of the year and five All-AAC selections, four All-Region players and a First Team All-American scholar.

In his first season at SMU, Stoddard helped coach the team en route to the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships, leading to an NCAA Tournament appearance. During the 2018 campaign, Stoddard helped develop seven All-AAC selections, three All-Region players, four All-Academic team players, and five AAC players of the week. The Mustangs were also awarded the Team Academic Achievement award for 2018.

Stoddard came to SMU from Oregon State, where he spent four seasons. During Stoddard’s time at OSU he served as the associate head coach from 2016-2018, the program’s top assistant and recruiting coordinator in 2015, and an assistant coach in 2014. Stoddard was also named interim head coach prior to the hiring of Terry Boss in December 2017.

As associate head coach at Oregon State, Stoddard coached 10 All-Pac-12 selections and six All-Region players. 6 players signed professionally during his time in the position, including 2 selected in the MLS draft. Stoddard also lead the charge in bringing in back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes to OSU.

During this time Oregon State also earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award in both 2016 and 2017.

Prior to his promotion to associate head coach, Stoddard helped lead the Beavers to several marquee wins. For their efforts, the Beavers notched a trio of All-Pac-12 honorees, including First Team recognition for forward Timmy Mueller. OSU also had 2 more player sign professional contracts following the 2015 season.

In his first season with OSU, Stoddard helped lead Oregon State to the best season in school history, as the team won 12 games en route to its first ever NCAA Tournament win. Senior Khiry Shelton earned All-American, Pac-12 Player of the Year, and Hermann Trophy Semifinalist honors. Freshmen Timmy Mueller was also named All-American, as well as Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

The 2014 season lead to 3 OSU players signing professional contracts including Khiry Shelton being selected as the #2 Overall pick in the MLS Draft and Will Seymore being chosen in the 3rd round.

Prior to joining the Beavers, Stoddard served as the Graduate Assistant at his alma mater, Indiana Wesleyan University, for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He assisted in all facets, helping lead IWU to two of their best seasons in program history and a consistent NAIA top 15 ranking. IWU won back-to-back regular season conference championships, and the 2013 conference tournament which ultimately led to their run to the NAIA Sweet 16.

In addition to his coaching duties at IWU, Stoddard served as an age group director and a coach for a club and academy in Indiana.

Stoddard played for Gardner-Webb University (NCAA Division I) before transferring to IWU in 2009. As a player, Stoddard received All-Conference and Academic All-American honors. During Stoddard’s collegiate career he also played PDL for two summers with the Cascade Surge (Salem, OR) and the Northern Virginia Royals.

Stoddard earned his Master's Degree in Management through Indiana Wesleyan University. He holds a USSF National 'B’ License and NSCAA Premier Diploma. He was selected to the NSCAA 30-under-30 program in 2016 and named a Top Assistant Coach by TopDrawer Soccer in 2022. Stoddard currently serves as a U.S. Soccer scout.

Stoddard and his wife, Heidi, live in Dallas with their son Lucas, his daughter Sophie and two dogs.