Wilmington University

New Castle, DE 19702

Delaware Northeast

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Coaches

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Jeff Zoyac

Jeff Zoyac enters his ninth season at the helm of the Wilmington University women’s soccer program in 2023. He took over the women’s soccer head coaching job in the summer of 2015 after spending the previous 11 seasons on the men’s side at Wilmington under his former coach Nick Papanicolas.

During his first eight years at the helm of the Wildcats, Zoyac’s student-athletes have earned 22 All-CACC honors, including one CACC Defensive Player of the Year and one CACC Goalkeeper of the Year, 12 different All-Region honors, and one All-American.

In 2018, the Wildcats squared off against three nationally ranked opponents in their first five games of the year, starting the year, 1-4. But five straight CACC wins brought the Wildcats back to 6-5 at the end of September. Earning the No. 6 seed, the Wildcats nearly pulled the upset at No. 3 Holy Family, having multiple chances down the stretch before falling, 2-1, in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinals.

In 2017, the Wildcats started 5-1 in CACC play but won the final six games of the regular season to close out the year 10-2 in the CACC, earning the second seed for the CACC Tournament. An overtime victory in the CACC Quarterfinals sent the Wildcast to the CACC Semifinals, where they beat Holy Family, 3-1, to advance to the CACC Championship for the first time since 2012. Their run came to an end in the Championship however, ending their season with a 14-6-1 overall mark.

Zoyac became the fourth head coach of the women’s soccer program in its NCAA era. He took over the women’s program after being an assistant and associate head coach for Nick Papanicolas and the men’s program at Wilmington for the past 11 seasons.

During his time on the sidelines with Papanicolas, Zoyac has seen over 100 victories in 11 seasons, helping the Wildcats to an overall record of 115-80-23 and a 68-32-11 record inside the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Zoyac has been a part of one CACC Tournament Championship run (2007), and two NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Second Round appearances (2009 and 2013).

Prior to coaching at Wilmington, Zoyac finished his collegiate career as a Wildcat, transferring from Rowan College after leading the Profs to a NCAA Division III National Semifinal appearance as a sweeper. Upon joining Wilmington in 2003, he led the Wildcats in scoring and was a crucial piece of their second CACC Championship. He finished his collegiate soccer career as an Honorable Mention All-CACC selection.

Outside of Wilmington, Zoyac has been coaching girls’ club soccer at the New Jersey Rush Soccer Club since 2010. Under his tutelage, the U18’s girls’ team has claimed back-to-back U.S. Club New Jersey State Championships and has been ranked in the top-3 in the state in each of the past two seasons. Zoyac has also coached the U14 and U 16 teams at NJ Rush, leading each team into the top-10 in the state.

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Don Palmucci

Don Palmucci enters his ninth season under the helm of Head Coach Jeff Zoyac and the Wilmington University women's soccer program in 2023. Palmucci brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the WilmU soccer program with over 12 years at the college level.

In his day-to-day at WilmU, Palmucci is heavily involved in all facets of the program including assisting in planning, organizing, and running training sessions, set pieces, recruiting talent, fostering a positive team culture as well as evaluating film, and scouting opponents.

In 2021, Palmucci took the position and responsibility of strengthening the defense and helped orchestrate a mentally tough unit that garnered a 12-5-3 overall record that included eight shutouts and only allowed twelve goals in twenty games with a 0.97 GAA. Likewise, Palmucci helped guide Samantha Emmi to a First Team D2CCA All-Eastern Region, First Team All CACC, CACC All-Tournament Team, and the CACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also helped guide Jimena Garcia Risota to an All-American season, being named a Second Team D2CCA All-American.

Likewise, Coach Palmucci believes in coaching through character and is an asset in mental imagery, mindset training, team building, and the overall culture of the WilmU program.

Palmucci started his coaching tenure at The College of New Jersey as a graduate assistant. From there, he founded and started a motivational sports company called Program for Results (PFR), which worked with high-level college and professional athletes to develop accountability for life goals, behavior, and sports performance. Following PFR, Palmucci moved into the youth soccer arena as the Vice President and trainer at Kingsway United Soccer Club. Shortly after, Coach Palmucci joined the NJ Rush Soccer Club as a trainer and coordinator in South Jersey.

In addition to his youth experience, Palmucci assisted Jimmy Connor at Salem Community College as the women’s assistant soccer coach. Likewise, Palmucci served two years as the head women’s soccer coach at Cumberland County College and guided multiple players to attain All-Region 19 honors.

On the Olympic Development Program (ODP) front, Palmucci serves on the NJ Youth Soccer Association staff as a NJ ODP Girls team coach. Palmucci was involved in all ODP training, identification camps, and evaluation process throughout the state of New Jersey. Currently, at the club level, Palmucci coaches at the South Jersey Elite Barrons (SJEB).

Coach Palmucci is employed by the Pennsville School District as the Student Assistance Coordinator, Guidance Chair, and Anti-Bullying Coordinator located in Salem County, New Jersey. He received his B.A. with distinction (Magna Cum Laude) in Psychology and his M.A. from The College of New Jersey in Counseling & Personnel Services.

He resides in South Harrison, New Jersey with his wife Suzanne and two children, Alyssa & Josh.

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Rebecca Dolhansky

Assistant Coach

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Nick Papanicolas

Nick Papanicolas will enter his 20th season at the helm of the Wilmington University men’s soccer program in 2023. The 2006, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year, Papanicolas has led his team to the CACC Tournament in all 19 years as head coach. He put together a run in 2007 to the CACC Tournament Championship and finished the regular season as the number one seed in 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021, while also earning the program’s first bid to the NCAA East Regional Tournament, finishing 15th in the nation in 2009. The 2007 campaign was the school’s first CACC title since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in the fall of 2004.

During his 19-year tenure at the helm of the Wildcats, Papanicolas’ student-athletes have earned 73 All-CACC honors, 46 All-Region honors, two Daktronics/D2CCA East Region Player of the Year awards, 16 different All-American honors, three CACC Rookie of the Year awards, three CACC Player of the Year awards, four CACC Defensive Players of the Year awards, three CACC Goalkeeper of the Year awards, and the 2019 Ron Lenz Division II National Player of the Year in Lorne Bickley.

The 2021 season was yet another historic season for the Wildcats, as Papanicolas and the team hosted an NCAA Super Region 1 game for the first time in program history. It was the program's sixth appearance into the NCAA Tournament, but the first time the Wildcats had the chance to host a tournament game at the WU Athletics Complex. The Wildcats finished 16-4-1 overall, tied atop the CACC Regular Season standings with a 9-2 CACC record. The Wildcats had the CACC Rookie of the Year in Richard Thompson, the CACC Defensive Player of the Year in Carson Talboys, the CACC Goalkeeper of the Year in Kostis Parisis, and Papanicolas was named the CACC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career. Shawn Genus was named a D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches All-American after scoring 21 goals and adding six assists for 48 points. As the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Super Region 1 Tournament, the Wildcats fell to No. 6 Davis & Elkins, 4-2, in the Second Round.

The 2019 season was one for the record books for the Wildcats, as they led all of NCAA Division II in many offensive categories including goals (91), assists (76), scoring offense (4.33), shots per game (19.43), shots on goal per game (9.9), corner kicks per game (7.48), and points per game (12.29). The Wildcats won their fourth CACC Regular Season Championship, going 10-1-1 in CACC play. The Wildcats once again advanced to the CACC Tournament Semifinals with a 7-4 Quarterfinal victory, but fell to Georgian Court, 4-2, in the semifinal. The Wildcats earned another at-large big into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, teetering between hosting the opening weekend all season long. As the No. 5 seed, the Wildcats fell to No. 4 Franklin Pierce, 1-0, in Rindge, N.H. in the first round. The Wildcats finished 17-3-1 overall. Individually, Papanicolas and the Wildcats had a first in Wilmington University athletics history as Lorne Bickley was named the Ron Lenz DII National Player of the Year after breaking the school and CACC record for goals and points in a season. He also led all of Division II in goals and points in 2019. The Wildcats had three All-Americans, five All-Region performers, five First Team All-CACC members, two Second Team All-CACC members, the CACC Player of the Year, the CACC Defensive Player of the Year, the CACC Goalkeeper of the Year, and the CACC Coach of the Year.

In 2018, Papanicolas led the Wildcats to a CACC Regular Season Champion, going 9-1-2 in CACC play. The Wildcats defeated Chestnut Hill, 3-0, and Jefferson, 2-1, in the CACC Tournament, but fell in the CACC Tournament Championship, 2-0, to host Post. The Wildcats earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament for the fourth time in program history, earning the No. 5 seed. They defeated No. 4 Le Moyne on their home turf, 4-1, to advance to the Second Round, but fell to top seed Adelphi, 2-1. Papanicolas coached five student-athletes to All-CACC status, four to All-Region status, and two to All-American status, including Vinny Tasca being named the United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and Goalkeeper of the Year.

In 2015, the Wildcats captured their second CACC Regular Season Championship with a 10-2 record, going 15-6 overall. With their outstanding play throughout the East Region during the regular season, the Wildcats earned an at-large bid to participate in the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament. They earned their second ever NCAA win with a 4-3 overtime thriller against Adelphi in the First Round. Their season came to a close in the Second Round, however, falling to host and eventual NCAA Division II East Regional champion LIU Post.

In 2013, Wilmington earned its second ever bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, sliding in as the sixth seed, playing against Post on the campus of Southern New Hampshire. A header in the 105th minute sent the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory and into the second round, capturing the program’s and the CACC’s first ever NCAA victory. The team lost to Southern New Hampshire in the second round, which eventually went on to win the NCAA Division II National Championship.

In the 2013 regular season finale, Papanicolas, the only coach in the 11-year history of the program since turning NCAA eligible, recorded his 100th career victory with a 4-0 win over Georgian Court University. After 13 years, he has collected a 142-92-24 overall record, good enough for a .597 winning percentage.

The 2009 season was a record year for Papanicolas and the Wildcats as they went undefeated in the CACC in the regular season (11-0) en route to a 19-3-1 overall record. They earned their first trip to the NCAA East Regional Tournament, earning a first round bye as the No. 2 seed. They had a 15-game winning streak during the 2009 campaign and their 19 wins were seven more than any other year in the NCAA era to that point.

Papanicolas took over the coaching ranks at Wilmington after one season as an assistant in 2003. He helped the Wildcats return to the top of the conference with a regular season record of 10-7-3 during the team’s provisional season into the NCAA.

Prior to joining the Wilmington team, Papanicolas returned to his alma mater to coach at Division III Rowan University for three seasons (2000-02). During his tenure with the Profs, the team culminated a 58-10-2 overall record. Papanicolas was a three year starter on the soccer team at Rowan where he led the team in scoring during his sophomore season and was captain in his final two years. In his three years as a player, he led the Profs to three NCAA berths and the 1998 Final Four.

Papanicolas holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration. In addition to being the head men’s soccer coach, he works in the University’s Student Life Department.