Field Hockey | 3/2/2026 1:26:00 PM

Saint Francis University Director of Athletics Jim Brazill has announced Nicole Bocox as the new Red Flash field hockey head coach. Bocox becomes the sixth head coach in the program's history. She will begin shaping the Saint Francis roster as the program moves to NCAA Division III in the fall of 2026, joining the Presidents' Athletic Conference and marking the 25th season in program history.

"We are excited to welcome Nicole back to Saint Francis and usher in a new era of Saint Francis field hockey as we transition to NCAA Division III in the fall," said Brazill. "Nicole has been a great recruiter and was able to increase the roster size at her two previous stops, and we are excited to see her rebuild our team for the fall and help us be competitive in the Presidents' Athletic Conference."

Bocox comes to Loretto with four years of head coaching experience, including two years at Cedar Crest and two at D'Youville. At both schools, she increased roster sizes by 50 percent in her two years at Cedar Crest and created the program at D'Youville, fielding 22 players in her first two years.

"I'm eager to be a part of the Red Flash field hockey family and continue the great culture that's already been established on the field hockey team," said Bocox. "I would like to thank Jim Brazill, Shane Tay, and Lisa Swope for all their efforts throughout the search and for their confidence in me to lead this program."

For the past two seasons, she was the head coach of NCAA Division II D'Youville, where she helped start the Saint program. Prior to D'Youville, she was the head coach at Cedar Crest College for two seasons, where she helped the team to a 17-18 record. Bocox helped the Falcons reach the Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship Game for the first time in program history in 2021, and the team was picked as the preseason favorite the following season. 

In addition, 12 Falcons were named to All-CSAC teams, including six first-team selections and one Co-Player of the Year. Her teams also succeeded in the classroom as 11 student-athletes earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) all-academic squad honors, while her 2021 team was recognized with an NFHCA National Academic Team Award.

Prior to Cedar Crest, she was an assistant coach at Frostburg State University (2019-2021) for two seasons, helping the program transition from Division III to Division II. Before that, Bocox served as an assistant for one season at her alma mater, King's College (2017-2018), a Division III institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Bocox is no stranger to Saint Francis after she played one season with the Red Flash field hockey team in 2013 before transferring to King's, where she was a two-time MAC Freedom all-conference selection and a two-year captain. He helped the 2016 Monarchs win the MAC Freedom Tournament Championship to earn the program's first NCAA berth since 2007. 

Bocox graduated from King's College in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education and earned her master's in sport management from Frostburg State University in 2020.

What They Are Saying About Nicole Bocox:
Kaitlin Thompson, Frostburg State Field Hockey Head Coach
"Nicole is a coach who is passionate about the game and her student-athletes' success. She connects with her student-athletes on and off the field, fostering a strong team culture and lasting relationships. Nicole is proactive in her personal development, continually working to expand her already strong knowledge of field hockey. Saint Francis is getting a strong coach to help lead them into its Division III era."

Alycia Pollinger, Buffalo Field Hockey Club Director
"Nicole Bocox will be an instrumental change to the Saint Francis program. Nicole has a modern, well-rounded coaching style and the utmost care for all her athletes. Her coaching philosophy will create a culture where athletes are cared for and pushed to be the best they can be, both on the field and in the classroom. I have no doubt that athletes who choose Saint Francis and Coach Bocox will be in the best hands. Nicole has extensive training in game tactics and modern skills, and her past success at D'Youville and Cedar Crest will translate to Saint Francis and her players. I am excited to watch Nicole continue to excel in her coaching career as she builds relationships with her athletes and recruits, with the end goal of improving the field hockey community and Saint Francis. We will greatly miss her in Buffalo, and I know I can speak for my athletes that they enjoyed the time they spent with her, the knowledge that they gained, and the opportunities they were given because she is a coach that cares about her athletes and all of their successes!"