Head coach: Nikki Bartholomew season (4th season with club)
Nikki Bartholomew enters her fourth season as head coach of the women’s team, with whom she’s won three division titles and led the team to the 2022 UWS National Semifinal.
Bartholomew was named UWS East Conference Coach of the Year in 2021, the debut season for FCB’s women’s side, as five players were honored All-East Conference and Kelsey Araujo was honored as the conference’s top player.
She went back-to-back with the East Conference honors in 2022, as five players again made the league’s honor roll. And while FCB’s unbeaten season didn’t land her the award in 2023, she helped Marcy Barberic win national MVP.
Bartholomew and longtime associate coach Gabrielle Wilson led the club through its first three season, as a unique partnership helped the club produce immediate dividends.
Bartholomew is the FC Buffalo Youth Academy’s director and lives locally with her husband and two daughters.
Coach Bartholomew’s record by year
2021
Regular season: 7W-2L-1T — East Conference regular season champions
Playoffs: 1W-1L
2022
Regular season: 7W-1L-2T — Penn-NY regular season champions
Playoffs: 2W-1L — East Conference champions, National semifinalist
2023
Regular season: 8W-0L — East Conference regular season champions
Playoffs: 1W-1L
Career
Regular season: 22W-3L-3T
Playoffs: 4W-3L
Assistant coach: Trevor Lawler (2nd season with club, 1st with women’s team)
Trevor Lawler enters his second season with FC Buffalo in 2024.
The decorated high school and BDSL leader served on Casey Derkacz’s staff during the 2022 USL League Two, and served as interim boss in the season finale when FCB drew Toledo Villa in Ohio.
Assistant coach: Angela Nicholas-Tolsma (1st season with club)
Angela Nicholas-Tolsma enters her first season with FC Buffalo in 2024.
The head women’s soccer coach at D’Youville University is coming off an exceptional first season at Dobson Field and previously led Medaille University from 2018-22. A Tonawanda native, Angela was a five-year starter at the University at Buffalo.
Goalkeeping coach: John Netter (2nd season with club, 1st as coach)
A mainstay in the Buffalo soccer community as a player, coach, and referee, John played for FC Buffalo during its time in the National Premier Soccer League. He brings a wealth of knowledge and connections to our club.
