PITTSBURGH -- Head acrobatics & tumbling coach Michaela Soper has announced the hiring of Nikki Pizzi as the first assistant coach in program history. 

A former teammate of Soper's at Gannon University, Pizzi will help lead one of Duquesne's newest athletic programs into its first year of competition in 2024-25.

"Nicole's passion and knowledge of the sport have helped her excel in her coaching career thus far. As a former student athlete in acrobatics and tumbling and a coach of this sport, she has exemplified the qualities that Duquesne University values," said Soper. "The extent of her expertise in her previous coaching role emphasizes the impact she can have on a program. I am thrilled to work beside her as we propel this program into the next stage and I am excited to watch her grow in this new role!"

No stranger to building a program from scratch, Pizzi spent the past three years as the head coach at Notre Dame College (Ohio). Pizzi, hired to launch the Falcons' program in August of 2021, was the lone coach in program history.

Pizzi earned Mountain East Conference (MEC) Coach of the Year in 2023-24 and led the Falcons to an event title in the Trio Tumbling event at the conference championships. Notre Dame posted a 5-9 record in two seasons of competition under Pizzi, including a 4-4 mark this past year. The Falcons featured a four-meet win streak in the middle of the 2023-24 campaign and improved their score nearly every meet, recording the highest team total in program history with 250.025 points in their late-season matchup at Glenville State. In two seasons, Pizzi coached three student-athletes to All-MEC honors including the program's first-ever first team selection in 2023-24.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to become the assistant coach for Duquesne University's inaugural acrobatics and tumbling team," said Pizzi. "I feel beyond blessed that the athletics department and Coach Soper have allowed me to be a part of this journey with them. Working under Coach Soper, I am confident we will build a great team. I am excited to start working and creating history at Duquesne University. Go Dukes!"

As a student athlete, Pizzi was a five-year member of the Gannon University acrobatics & tumbling program. In addition to earning her master's degree and competing in her fifth year, Pizzi also coached youth cheer and tumbling at the local CheerVIBE in Erie.

Pizzi was named a National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Associations (NCATA) All-American as well as Gannon's Senior Student-Athlete of the Year in 2021. Pizzi helped secure a NCATA National Championship in the Inversion Pyramid event in 2018. While at Gannon, Pizzi made three National Championship appearances and competed in multiple event final championships.

A native of Wallingford, Conn., Pizzi earned a bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science in 2020 and a master's degree in applied exercise science from Gannon in 2021.

Soper announced Duquesne's inaugural recruiting class, which includes 33 future Dukes from 15 states, in November.

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