Nick Puccio begins his sixth season at the helm of the Nichols College baseball program in 2019.
Puccio has guided Nichols to 20-win campaigns in two of the last three seasons and, since arriving in Dudley in 2014, produced 19 all-conference selections – including seven Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) First Team picks. A pair of Puccio’s former student-athletes are currently playing professional baseball.
This past season, Puccio saw a pair of his recruits and 2018 graduates – Nick Roy and Cam Cook – earn all-conference recognition and break several school records; each played in 151 career games, which is No. 1 all-time, and the duo ranks 1-2 in career hits (Cook 210, Roy 202).
In 2017, the Bison posted a 23-19 mark and advanced to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals. The season was highlighted by wins over NCAA Participants Salve Regina and Worcester State, as well as College World Series participant Wheaton (MA). The Bison played one of the toughest schedules in the region, one which featured a total of 17 teams which were regionally ranked during the season. Six Bison received CCC All-Conference honors – including First Team picks Nick Roy and Com Cook, who was also named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) and ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Second Team.
The Bison won a program-record 24 games in 2016 and earned the No. 3 seed in the CCC Tournament, giving them the right to host a home playoff contest. Nichols later earned its first-ever berth into the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Tournament. Puccio – who shared Worcester Area Coach of the Year accolades – saw seven student-athletes earn CCC All-Conference honors – including four (Ross Caswell, Cam Cook, Kevin Kirley, Nick Roy) selected to the CCC First Team. Cook was also named to the D3baseball.com All-New England Second Team as well as ECAC Division III Baseball All-Second Team.
In 2015 while coaching a squad whose roster was comprised primarily of freshmen (67 percent) and no seniors, Puccio guided the Bison to 11 wins – the program’s highest win total since 2011. Two student-athletes – Spencer Madden and Matt Hardy – earned CCC Second and Third Team honors, respectfully, while Ben Harrow joined them on the All-Worcester Area Baseball Team. Additionally, the Bison saw a 31-point increase in their team batting average in 2015, giving them their highest mark (.304) since 2005.
In their first season under Puccio in 2014, the Bison increased their batting average by 46 points from the previous campaign (.227 to .273) and won five conference games – four more than the previous campaign. He earned his first win as a collegiate head coach against Southern Vermont on March 20.
In five seasons in Dudley, Puccio has produced 14 all-academic awards, four All-Worcester Area honors, and three all-region accolades. His players have played in the NECBL, Futures Leagues, NYCBL, Hampton’s League, Pecos League, and the Perfect Game League.
Prior to his arrival at Nichols, Puccio spent three seasons at Wheaton (MA) College and was a key member of a coaching staff which guided the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances – including the College World Series National Championship game in 2012. During his time in Norton, Puccio coached 13 student-athletes who earned All-New England Honors, another 13 who garnered All-New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) honors, and one All-America selection.
Puccio - the lead hitting coach as well as the third base coach for longtime Wheaton (MA) head coach Eric Podbelski – saw the Lyons receive the NEWMAC Team Sportsmanship Award on two occasions. Responsible for recruiting the northeast region, Puccio also assisted Podbelski with all day-to-day operations of the program. Puccio spent the summer of 2013 as the hitting coach and camp director for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he coached a total of 14 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft Picks – including a pair of first-rounders.
Puccio began his collegiate coaching career in 2008 at Dean College, where he was the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two years. He helped the Bulldogs win a school-record 27 games in 2009 and saw four student-athletes selected to the all-region team. Puccio returned to his alma mater, Fitchburg State, in 2010 and spent one year as an assistant coach and camp coordinator with the Falcons before he moved on to work as an assistant coach at Southeastern Iowa Community College in 2011.
While in Iowa, Puccio helped the Blackhawks win a program-record 44 games and post the seventh-highest winning pct. in the country (44-16; 733). Puccio – who was also the recruiting coordinator and community advisor – saw nine student-athletes earn All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) honors, two student-athletes garner All-America accolades, and two selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. The Blackhawks climbed as high as No. 14 in the national rankings during the season.
Puccio received his associate of arts in education from Dean College in 2007 and his bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies from Fitchburg State in 2010.
