BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement
Mike Lynch announced that longtime head women's soccer coach
Nellie Pineault MBA'03 will step into a new role as Associate Athletics Director for Community Impact and Engagement on Tuesday afternoon.
Pineault will continue to serve as the department's senior woman administrator, a position she has held since 2023, while moving into her new role on August 1. A national search for the Beavers' next head women's soccer coach will begin immediately.
In her new role, Pineault will lead efforts to enhance community engagement across athletics, with a focus on elevating key events and creating meaningful connections among our student-athletes, alumni, and campus partners. She will provide leadership for major departmental events and serve as a key point of connection with campus partners. Additionally, Pineault will also play a central role in advancing staff education, training, and development initiatives, while collaborating on programming that supports the holistic experience of our student-athletes.
"This transition reflects both Nellie's exceptional contributions to Babson Athletics and the opportunity we have to further strengthen our program by leveraging her talents in new and important ways," said Lynch. "Nellie has been a trusted leader, colleague, and mentor for many years, and her commitment to our student-athletes and ability to build strong, lasting relationships across campus have helped shape the culture of our department. I am incredibly grateful for the lasting mark Nellie has made as a coach and leader, and I am equally excited about what lies ahead as she joins our administrative team in this expanded capacity. This is an important step forward for our department, and I am confident that Nellie's leadership will help us build an even stronger, more connected, and more impactful program."
Pineault, who has served as both a coach and administrator at Babson for more than two decades, was an assistant women's soccer coach from 2004-09 before becoming just the fifth head coach in program history in 2010. Over 16 seasons, she compiled a 152-94-49 record while guiding the Beavers to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament final in 2010, 2015 and 2023, and the program's first two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2023.
The 2023 NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Pineault ranks second in program history in wins, recorded at least 10 victories seven times and finished .500 or better in 14 of 15 full seasons. Her teams also placed among the top three in the league standings on seven occasions and advanced to the conference semifinals in 10 of 15 tournaments dating back to 2010.
Pineault led Babson to an 11-7-2 mark and a spot in the NEWMAC Tournament final in her first season at the helm in 2010. The Green and White put together a historic campaign in 2015, recording its most wins (14) since 1992 while earning the program's first NCAA Tournament bid after falling on penalty kicks in the conference final.
The Beavers recorded seven consecutive shutouts to end the 2021 season and won their first eight games of the 2022 campaign, ascending to a program-best 10th in the United Soccer Coaches poll in late September on the way to closing the year with 14 wins. Pineault then guided Babson to 12 wins, a third NEWMAC Tournament final appearance and the program's second NCAA Tournament bid in 2023.
"I am thankful for the women's soccer team, coaches, alumni, and the broader community," said Pineault. "Any coach knows these are our why's and I appreciate you every day. Being able to coach a game that unites us and foster a community of personal and team growth is special. I am fortunate not only to transition my professional career, but to do so in a way that I can positively impact the team, program, athletics, and Babson community I love."
In addition to her team's success on the field, Pineault's players earned one All-America, 26 all-region honors and 52 all-conference accolades during her tenure.
