DALLAS (SMU) – Former SMU men's soccer player and women's soccer graduate assistant Nicholas Petrucelli returns to the Hilltop as an Assistant Coach, Head Coach Nicole Nelson announced on Thursday.

"We are very excited to welcome Nick back to the Hilltop," Nelson said. "As a former student-athlete, he has an incredible passion for SMU. He has experience in the ACC and the Gainbridge Super League and brings a level of coaching expertise to our team that will immensely benefit our student-athletes as we continue to build something special at SMU."

Petrucelli arrives back on the Hilltop after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Dallas Trinity FC in the Gainbridge Super League (formerly the USL Super League).

"SMU is a special place, so I want to thank Nicole for giving me the opportunity to come back to my Alma Mater," Petrucelli said. "I am very excited to get back to the Hilltop and get to work."

During the 2025-26 season, Trinity FC clinched its second playoff berth after finishing the regular season fourth overall, becoming one of only two Gainbridge Super League teams to make the playoffs in the first two years of the league.

In his first season with Trinity FC, the club finished third overall in the team's and the league's inaugural season. Petrucelli helped guide former Mustang Allie Thornton, who won the league's Golden Boot award after scoring 13 goals during the season.

Prior to joining Trinity FC, Petrucelli spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Louisiana and helped the Ragin' Cajuns make the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2023.

Before making his arrival in Cajun Country, Petrucelli spent four seasons on the staff at Miami. Petrucelli served as the Hurricanes' Director of Operations. He also coached at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Fla., where he helped lead the team to an 18-2-3 record and the 2021 Florida Class 3A state title match. While at Ransom, the Raiders earned a No. 2 national ranking before finishing ninth overall by SoccerWire.com.

Prior to his time in Coral Gables, Petrucelli spent a year on staff at his alma mater, SMU, where he was the women's soccer undergraduate assistant. In his role, he served as the Mustangs' video coordinator and aided with other tasks assigned by the coaching staff.

During his tenure at SMU, Petrucelli helped the women's soccer team reach double-digit wins for the second straight season and wrapped up the year 2-1-1 against top-25 competition. The Mustangs opened the season with a 1-0 overtime win against No. 17 Arkansas and a scoreless draw against No. 16 Oklahoma. The team then ended the 2017 season strong, winning five of its final six contests, including a victory over No. 21 Cincinnati, 1-0.

As a player, Petrucelli was a member of the SMU men's soccer team for two seasons, making his collegiate debut in 2014 against Central Arkansas.

Prior to enrolling at SMU, he played for Lonestar SC Academy in the United States Soccer Development Academy from 2009-13, reaching the postseason twice and claiming the Disney Cup championship in 2009.

Petruchelli comes from a soccer family as his father, two-time National Coach of the Year, 1995 NCAA Championship Coach, Chris Petrucelli, was the head coach for the SMU women's soccer team for 10 years (2012-2022), leading the Mustangs to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Chris spent 32 seasons as a Division I head coach with stops at Notre Dame, Texas in addition to his time on the Hilltop and is currently the General Manager of Dallas Trinity FC.

A native of Austin, Texas, Petrucelli graduated from SMU in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and journalism.