Coach Nienhaus joined the Owls in 2021 after serving as the head coach and director of coaching for the University of Jamestown (ND). While at Jamestown Nienhaus led the Jimmes to a 75-57-12 record. He coached numerous All-Conference and All-American players. Tommy helped 6 athletes achieve their professional dreams by signing professional contracts. Â
Prior to his work with the Jimmies, Nienhaus served as an assistant coach at Shattuck-St. Marry’s School (Minn.). The private high school serves as a boarding school with a residential soccer academy who plays in MLS Next. Tommy was tasked with the recruitment and direction of soccer players from all around the globe. In his four years with St. Marry’s, Nienhaus help the team make 2 final appearances (2010- USYS U19 National Champion Runner-up, USSF SA National Runner Up). He coached numerous college, professional, and international players in his time with the institution. Â
Coach Nienhaus graduated from IUPUI in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in general studies. Tommy earned his master's in exercise science in 2009 from California University of Pennsylvania. Tommy has a USSF A Licenses, he is a licensed USSF Grassroots Instructor, and was listed on the Unites Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 Mentor list.Â
The 2024 American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year, Nienhaus earned his greater role as WWU director of soccer after guiding Owls men's soccer to their first-ever outright AMC regular-season title in 2024, shutting out every AMC opponent.Â
In his first four seasons at the helm of WWU men's soccer, Nienhaus has led the Owls to a 29-31-13 record and an overall record of 104-88-25 in 10 seasons as a men's college soccer head coach. Coaching The Woods in its final four seasons in the AMC, Nienhaus's Owls went 12-13-6 in the AMC, qualifying for the AMC Tournament all four years and going as far as the semifinals twice - the past two campaigns.
During Nienhaus's tenure, William Woods had its first NAIA All-American in five years (third-team defender Omar Murillo in 2024), an AMC Newcomer of the Year, an AMC Fair Play & Sportsmanship Award, 18 All-AMC performers, 24 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, 39 Academic All-AMC recipients, four CSC Academic All-District selections and one CSC Academic Second-Team All-American. Moreover, he has increased WWU's roster size from 24 in his first two seasons to 35 in his last two years - the Owls added a reserve team in 2024.
In the Spring of 2025, Nienhaus was elevated to Director of Soccer. In this new position, Coach Nienhaus will oversee both the Men's and Women's soccer progragms.Â
Tommy is happily married to his wife Cathy, they live with their two children: Adalyn Nienhaus (William Woods University Women’s Soccer player c/o 2026) and their son Daygen who attends Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Mo. Â
