John Nikchevich returns for his fourth season as head coach of the USF women's soccer program.

Nikchevich directed his 2010 team to a 6-10-1 record, giving the Saints more victories in one year than they had in the previous two seasons combined (5). The Saints stood at 6-7-1 and 3-4 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play before dropping their final three contests to eventual CCAC regular-season champion Robert Morris, CCAC Tournament winner Olivet Nazarene and perennial CCAC power Trinity International.

USF registered three conference wins in 2010, its most since posting a 5-4 league mark in 2005. The club also recorded four shutout victories, three of them coming in CCAC play over Holy Cross, Judson and Calumet St. Joseph.

Nikchevich came to St. Francis after putting together an impressive soccer coaching record at the high school and club levels.  He continues to coach in those divisions in addition to his duties at USF.

He led Nazareth Academy High School in nearby La Grange Park to back-to-back girls soccer regional championships in 2006 and '07 and again to regional titles in 2009, ‘10 and ‘11. He directed Nazareth to both regional and sectional crowns in 2010 before bowing out in the supersectional round of the Illinois state tournament. The championship in 2006 represented the first-ever regional title for the Nazareth program and he has now coached regional winners in five of his first six seasons at the school.

In addition to his current success at Nazareth, Nikchevich has made a name for himself as one of the top girls soccer club coaches in the Chicago area. He previously directed the Sockers FC Chicago club from 2001-03, winning titles in U-16, U-17 and U-23 divisions. He also led the Eclipse Soccer Club from 2004-06. While with Eclipse, his team placed third in the nation in the U.S. Girls Under 19 division.

Nikchevich, who graduated in 1985 from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., is currently the Director of Coaching for the Joliet Storm Soccer Club. He also served as head coach for the USL W-League Chicago Gaels U-20 team for five seasons.