Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University Athletics
906 E 1st St/Louisiana Hwy One - PO Box 2032 Thibodaux, LA 70301

Division 1 Louisiana South

Public Medium National competitor

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Robert Podeyn

Robert Podeyn was hired as the head coach for Nicholls Women's Soccer on Monday, June 28, 2021.

Prior to joining the Colonels, Podeyn served as the head coach of the women's soccer program at Fresno Pacific for six seasons, leading the Sunbirds to a 44-41-9 overall record; notably, Podeyn guided the team to a program-best second-place finish within the Pacific West Conference during the 2017 campaign, earning the league's Coach of the Year award and seeing five players clinch All-Conference honors.

Previously, Podeyn orchestrated impressive turnarounds at Southwest Baptist (Mo.), Northwood University (Texas) and William Woods University which include two NCAA Division II Tournament berths, a conference tournament title and massive offensive statistical jumps in terms of average goals per game, shots-on-goal and total shots.

Podeyn began his coaching career after a successful seven-year stint as a professional athlete. He played collegiately at Long Island-C.W. Post (1984-87) where he was an NCAA Division II All-American while leading his team to the NCAA quarterfinals as a senior. That year, Podeyn led the nation in save percentage (.893) and ranked fifth in the nation in saves with 107. He went on to spend seven seasons with the Long Island Stars of the American Soccer League, earning league MVP honors twice while setting a league record for consecutive shutout minutes (973).

Additionally, Podeyn's résumé also includes a variety of other experiences within the United States and abroad, as he assisted with goalkeeper training for the U-17 U.S. Women's National Team, acted as a national technical director for APT Soccer and served a regional director for AFC Ajax, one of the largest and most prestigious professional soccer clubs in The Netherlands. He has also worked with professional coaches at Vitesse Arnhem (a Dutch professional club), in Brazil with Club Atletico Miniero (CAM), in Germany with Borussa Mochen Gladbach and in the U.S. with the Tampa Bay Mutiny (formerly of the MLS).

He holds a USSF national 'A' coaching license, NSCAA national youth diploma, NSCAA national goalkeeping diploma, English Football Association coaching license, UEFA coaching license, KNVB advanced tactical diploma and a Brazilian coaching license. Further, he has also served on the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Committee.

A published author, Podeyn has written seven books on the sport of soccer including Coaching the Dutch 4-3-3 and The Triangle Midfield.

He graduated from Dowling College with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dowling College and later earned a Master of Education from William Woods University. Podeyn has been married to his wife, Sondra, for more than 25 years. The couple has two sons -- Robert Jr. and Matthew.