GREEN BAY – Notre Dame Academy has hired two new coaches.
With soccer coach Bob Rickards accepting the head job with the St. Norbert College women’s program, the school recently hired assistant coach Nick Browne.
Browne has been a varsity assistant under Rickards the past four seasons after serving as the junior varsity coach the previous eight years.
The Green Bay Preble graduate also coached the Green Bay Lightning state premier team for two seasons before arriving at Notre Dame.
Rickards will guide the Tritons until the end of this season.
“I have learned so much from Bob Rickards,” Browne said in a statement released by Notre Dame. “Being detail-oriented, organized, showing the student-athletes and families respect and continuing faith is essential. The soccer aspect of things will work itself out, but educating the players on the game and making everything competitive is where it all starts.”
The Tritons are the defending WIAA Division 3 state champions and have reached the state tournament eight times since Rickards arrived in 2005.
“I think it’s a great choice,” Rickards said of the Browne hire. “He loves the soccer program. He has knowledge about soccer, and his insight will help the program out a lot. I would tell him to focus on keeping the program at a high level, maintain the quality and win another gold ball.”
Regional play started May 28, with the state tournament being held June 13-15 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Volleyball coach named
Notre Dame also named Jeff Dow its new boys’ volleyball coach, bringing the sport back to the school.
The team did not compete in volleyball last season because there weren’t enough players.
“My primary focus is to develop well-rounded athletes and exceptional young men,” Dow said in a statement. “My goal during practice is to push my players both mentally and physically so they are prepared to compete against more established programs.”
Dow has coached at both the boys’ varsity and JV levels at Nicolet, as well as girls’ teams at Anaheim High School, Notre Dame of De Pere Middle School and the De Pere Diggers Volleyball Club.
He also played at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“Although the boys’ volleyball program was not part of the athletic program last year, Notre Dame has a long history of excellence which extends many years,” said Notre Dame Principal Patrick Browne. “Jeff’s experience as a college athlete, as well as in working for professional sports teams, will help guide him as he brings out the best in each of his players.”