Coach Tommy Nienhaus joined the Owls in 2021 after serving as the head coach and director of coaching at the University of Jamestown. During his time with the Jimmies, Nienhaus compiled a 75-57-12 record while coaching numerous All-Conference and All-American players. He also helped six student athletes achieve their professional dreams by signing professional contracts.
Prior to his time at Jamestown, Nienhaus served as an assistant coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, a private boarding school with a nationally recognized residential soccer academy competing in MLS NEXT. There, he was responsible for recruiting and developing players from around the world. During his four years at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the program reached two national championship matches, including a runner-up finish in the 2010 USYS U19 National Championship and a USSF Development Academy National Runner-Up finish. He also coached numerous collegiate, professional, and international players during his tenure.
Nienhaus graduated from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies before earning a master’s degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009. He holds a USSF “A” License, is a licensed USSF Grassroots Instructor, and was named to the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 Mentor List.
The 2024 American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year, Nienhaus earned an expanded role as Director of Soccer at William Woods University after guiding the Owls men’s soccer program to its first outright AMC regular-season championship in 2024, shutting out every conference opponent during league play.
In his first four seasons leading the Owls men’s soccer program, Nienhaus compiled a 29-31-13 record and an overall 104-88-25 record across 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach. During William Woods’ final four years in the AMC, the Owls posted a 12-13-6 conference record, qualified for the AMC Tournament each season, and advanced to the conference semifinals twice, including in each of the last two campaigns.
During Nienhaus’s tenure, William Woods produced its first NAIA All-American in five years with third-team defender Omar Murillo in 2024. The program also earned an AMC Newcomer of the Year honor, an AMC Fair Play and Sportsmanship Award, 18 All-AMC selections, 24 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, 39 Academic All-AMC honorees, four CSC Academic All-District selections, and one CSC Academic Second-Team All-American. Additionally, the men’s soccer roster grew from 24 student-athletes during his first two seasons to 35 players over the last two years, highlighted by the addition of a reserve team in 2024.
In the spring of 2025, Nienhaus was elevated to Director of Soccer, overseeing both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. In his first season in the expanded role, he guided the men’s team to a 7-7-4 record in its first season competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Owls highlighted the season with a 2-1 road victory over then-No. 2-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University, a win that also earned Matthew Dworak the program’s first NAIA Player of the Week honor. William Woods concluded the year with a first-round conference tournament appearance against Baker University.
On the women’s side, Nienhaus guided a young Owls squad through a challenging conference schedule. William Woods scored 23 goals during the season and showed promise behind strong attacking play as the program continues to build toward the future with a rejuvenated roster entering 2026.
Tommy and his wife, Cathy, reside in Missouri with their two children, Adalyn Nienhaus, a member of the William Woods women’s soccer program (C/O ‘26), and Daygen, who attends Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis.
