Nicola Williams is an Australian association football coach and former player. Having moved to Australia at a young age from the UK, she found her love for sports and represented her state in Tennis, Volleyball, Hockey and Football. At the age of only 16, Williams began her studies in Sports Science at the University of Western Australia as a scholarship recipient. Deciding to follow her families footsteps, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Education to become an Approved Specialist Sport Teacher in 2002. Williams taught in a Football Specialist High Sports School for 15 years and fulfilled roles as teacher, co-ordinator and manager during this time.
Career
Williams played for the State School girls, WA State Women's Team and the Western Waves during their primary seasons in the Australian Women's National Soccer League. As the team captain and a prolific centre midfield player she won the League 9 times and Cup 7 times throughout her time at the club; League Champions - 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, Cup Champions - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and Pre Season Night Series - 2004, 2005, 2013, 2015.
Coaching career
Nicola Williams holds an Asian Football Confederation and Football Federation Australia "A" Coaching Licence accreditation and UEFA B Licence. Williams began her coaching career as the Head Coach of Australian W-League team Perth Glory in their 2008–2009 inaugural season, who improved to be a top 4 performing side in the second half of the season. Following this tenure Williams spent more than 6 years in the Australia Women's National Football Team; Assistant coach of the National Young Matildas U20 team for 4 years following her roles as the head coach of the Australian Girls U13 team in 2010 and Assistant U17 Women's National Team coach in 2012. Nicola Williams received an inaugural Elite Coaching Scholarship from FFA and presented her report at the 2010 FFA National Coaching Conference. She spent time studying training and coaching sessions by Pia Sundhage, at the United States women's national soccer team Camp and Emma Hayes, former coach of the Chicago Red Stars and currently with Chelsea F.C. Women. At the 2012 Women's U20 World Cup in Japan, Williams was invited to an Elite Coaches Workshop and met Carolina Morace, FIFA Instructor and Ambassador and former coach of the Canadian and Italian Women's National Teams. The pair began working together at Juventus Academy Roma, Female Football Academy and Pro Soccer Coaching before coaching Trinidad and Tobago Women's National Team in 2017 and AC Milan Women's Serie A Team in Italy 2018.
