Women’s Soccer – John McNichol

After former head coach John Sumoski announced he was leaving Wilkes to take a head coaching position at Franklin and Marshall College, the Wilkes women’s soccer team has named John McNichol as his replacement, making him the program’s seventh head coach in 31 years.

McNichol has had success as a head coach in the past; he spent his last four years at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. In three of his four seasons, McNichol took his team to their conference tournament. Prior to his time as a head coach, McNichol spent time as an assistant at King’s College.

Considering McNichol is replacing the Lady Colonels’ winningest coach, he has some big shoes to fill. The program’s expectations are high as the team looks to build off of last season’s NCAA tournament appearance.

Women’s Basketball – Tara Macciocco

After former head coach Chris Heery stepped down from the position he held for seven years, the Wilkes women’s basketball team named Tara Macciocco as his replacement, making her the program’s 14th head coach in 57 years.

Macciocco finds herself right back where she started as she began her coaching career with the Lady Colonels in 2001.

She comes to Wilkes following 14 seasons with Marywood University, where the Pacers appeared in 10 straight postseasons. In 2015-16 and 2016-17, Macciocco was named the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) coach of the year, where her teams won 19 and 15 games, respectively.

Macciocco comes to Wilkes looking to turn the program around and bring it back to the MAC Freedom playoffs. The Lady Colonels’ last appearance was in 1997.

Football – Jonathan Drach

After the departure of former head coach Trey Brown, the Wilkes football team named Jonathan Drach as his replacement, making him the program’s ninth head coach in 72 years.

For the past 11 years, Drach has been immersed in the Hobart College football program, starting out as a quarterbacks coach in 2007 and adding offensive coordinator to his title in 2014.

Drach’s credentials speak for themselves, as he coached the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2016. Furthermore, he played a crucial role in leading the Hobart College Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference Championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances, and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons.

Men’s & Women’s Swimming – Thomas Limouze

After former head coach Mark Barnes stepped down after four seasons, the Wilkes men’s and women’s swimming program named Thomas Limouze as his replacement, making him the second coach since the program’s relaunch in the 2014-2015 season.

Limouze spent this past season as the assistant coach at Sewanee: the University of the South, where the Tigers finished fifth at the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Championships, broke five team records, and ranked in program all-time top 10.

Prior to this past season, Limouze spent three seasons as the assistant coach at Swarthmore College, helping lead them to the Centennial Conference Championship in 2017 for the first time in program history. In 2015, he was honored with the Jean Freeman Scholarship for Outstanding Assistant Coaching.

Limouze also founded Friends Select Swimming (FSS) at USA Swimming Club in Philadelphia and began his coaching career at Ursinus College in 2006.