Abby Nielsen enters her seventh season as an assistant women’s basketball coach heading into the 2025-26 season. Since joining the staff in the fall of 2018, she has played a key role in the programs’ continued success, contributing to two USCAA National Championships (2019 and 2022), while winning the Yankee Small College Conference Tournament and regular seasons titles and making the national tournament field in all seven seasons. Coach Nielsen is known for her leadership, dedication, and ability to foster a winning team culture both on and off the court.

Before beginning her coaching career, Nielsen was a standout student-athlete at SMCC for two seasons before finishing her college career at NCAA DIII Thomas College. On the court, she helped lead the Seawolves basketball team to back-to-back USCAA national tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. On the softball diamond, she picked up YSCC All-Conference honors in both years. She was recognized as the Carroll Rines Sports Person of the Year in May 2016 and was a two-time Phi Theta Kappa honoree for her academic excellence.

After transferring, Nielsen spent two seasons with the Terriers while completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. She played in all 50 games for the women’s basketball team as a junior and senior, averaging more than 19 minutes per game and racking up 235 career points. With the softball team, Nielsen helped Thomas win the 2017 NAC Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Castleton University to claim a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Her 2017 squad was inducted into Thomas’ Hall of Fame in 2025. She racked up nine hits with two RBIs and six runs scored in 20 games as a senior in 2018.

Outside of coaching, Nielsen works as an Admissions Representative at Central Maine Community College, helping guide prospective students on their educational journeys. She lives locally with her puppy, who joined the family in August 2024, and enjoys balancing her professional and personal passions.

*updated July 2025