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Syracuse University (NY)

Syracuse University Athletics
 Manley Field House - 1301 E. Colvin St Syracuse, NY 13244
Division 1 New York Northeast
Private Large National competitor
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Coaches

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Nicky Adams

Nicky Thrasher Adams is in her fifth season at the helm of Syracuse's women's soccer team after being hired in February 2019.


Year one of her tenure was all about resetting the culture of the program and laying a foundation that taught players to win both on and off the field. Most of what Adams and her staff worked on throughout the year wasn't obvious to the public. There was a daily effort to create an open-door culture where players could speak openly about all aspects of life with the staff. Adams worked to build a family atmosphere by regularly hosting team dinners, and reconnecting with the program's alumni was a top priority.


Adams' first season featured the team opening with back-to-back victories at home, along with a 2-1 (OT) upset of Wake Forest. The Covid pandemic slowed some of the momentum in year two. The schedule was reduced to only contests in the rugged ACC and the eight-game slate included three games against top-10 opponents.


In 2021, Adams guided the Orange to a 4-1-1 start and the squad finished with the program's most victories since the 2017 campaign. Progress accelerated the following campaign. Adams directed the Orange seven wins over the first eight contests and a final record of 8-7-3. Syracuse battled through the ACC and managed a win and three ties in the conference. One of the deadlocks was a 2-2 tie at second-ranked Virginia. Three of the ACC losses were 1-0 decisions, including a one-goal defeat at #3 North Carolina.


Significant player injuries derailed the 2023 campaign. It provided Adams an opportunity to give field time to her less-experienced players, and helped develop the team's depth.


Adams is the fourth head women's soccer coach at Syracuse. April Kater (1996-2003), Patrick Farmer (2004-07) and Phil Wheddon (2008-18) were her predecessors.


Adams comes from Rice University, where she was the Owls' head women's soccer coach. She joined the coaching staff as an assistant in 2003 and then was promoted to associate head coach in 2006. The Owls received NCAA Tournament invitations in 2004 and 2005, and earned the program's first national ranking in 2006.


She was appointed interim head coach for the final 13 games of 2010. Adams guided Rice to its best conference start in program history, a 5-0-1 mark. The Owls then qualified for the Conference USA Tournament for the first time since 2008. She was named Rice's permanent head coach in November 2010.


Adams coached Rice to an 87-55-23 overall record and a 57-25-11 mark in Conference USA contests. She led the Owls to Conference USA Tournament berths in each of her nine seasons at the helm and the tournament championship in 2014. Rice shared the 2012 Conference USA regular-season title and won the crown outright in 2017.


Rice received NCAA Tournament invitations in 2014 and 2017. Adams was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year following both seasons.


Her players have earned All-Conference USA recognition 37 times, including 18 first-team selections, during her tenure as head coach. Adams has tutored the 2017 Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Year, the 2016 league defensive player of the year, the 2012 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, two Conference USA Offensive Players of the Year twice and four conference midfielders of the year.


Before her coaching career began, Adams played on the 1997 Big 12 championship squad and Big 12 Tournament title teams in 1997 and 2001 while an undergraduate at Texas A&M. She was named the squad's offensive most valuable player and was selected first team NSCAA All-Central Region three times. In 2001, Adams earned third team NSCAA All-American recognition.


The 1998 Big 12 Tournament MVP, Adams was selected first team All-Big 12 a season later.


Adams was nominated for the Herman Award, the women's soccer version of the Heisman Trophy, in 1999 and 2001. She completed her career ranked second in career goals (57), fifth in career assists (26) and third in career points (140) at Texas A&M.


The Aggies reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in 2001 before ending the season with a loss to Portland.


Adams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2001. She was a 2002 second-round selection by the Atlanta Beat of the Women's United Soccer Association. In 2015, she was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Brandon DeNoyer

Brandon DeNoyer joined the Syracuse staff as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2020 preseason. DeNoyer joins the Orange after spending the past two seasons as an assistant at Richmond.


DeNoyer helped Richmond go from two wins in 2018 to seven last season. He worked with the Spiders’ goalkeepers, who posted a combined four shutouts, a 1.46 goals-against average and a .771 save percentage.


Prior to his stint at Richmond, DeNoyer served as an assistant coach at Mississippi State for one season, helping the Bulldogs to a 9-5-4 mark. Under his tutelage, goalkeeper Catalina Perez earned All-America honors and Mississippi State allowed just 19 goals in 18 games. DeNoyer, a native of Scotia, N.Y., also served as the top assistant at Siena from 2011-16. During his tenure, the Saints won the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, DeNoyer mentored 2014 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Taylor Booth.


DeNoyer played from 2004-08 at SUNY Old Westbury, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in media communications and American studies. He stayed on at his alma mater for four seasons, serving as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer squad and as a volunteer goalkeeper coach for the women’s soccer program.


An experienced club coach, DeNoyer holds Regional, National, and Advanced National diplomas from NSCAA, and a United States Soccer Federation "D" License.

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