Nicole Renault begins her second season as an assistant coach with the women's ice hockey program in 2018-19.
In her first season behind the bench, the Bison won a program-record 12 games and scored their first playoff win in program history, a 2-1 overtime triumph over Johnson & Wales (RI) in the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Quarterfinal round on February 24 at Levy Rink. Nichols – whose 11-win turnaround was the largest in the nation this season – also set single-season records for goals/game (2.08), assists (82), points (182), PP goals (20), save percentage (.915), and fewest goals allowed (67). Freshman Mel McAleer was named CHC Rookie of the Year while 16 student-athletes garnered CHC Academic All-Conference honors.
Renault was a four-year member of the Syracuse University program, where she was a two-year assistant captain. She graduated with the most points by a defenseman in program history (81), collecting 28 points as both a sophomore and senior. She was a unanimous selection to the College Hockey America (CHA) All-Rookie Team in 2012-13 before earning First Team All-CHA honors in each of her final three campaigns. In 125 career games with the Orangewomen, Renault scored 37 goals to go along with 44 assists.
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A three-time CHA All-Academic Team pick, Renault graduated from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in May, 2016. She went on to spend one season as a member of the EV Bozen 84 Eagles, which competes in the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL). Renault helped them capture both the regular season and playoff championship.
