Rounding the Bases with Fordham Assistant Coach Nikki Cuccio

Rounding the Bases checks in with first-year assistant coaches at new programs and shines a spotlight on their coaching styles and perspectives. Some may be rookies in the coaching world, while others may be seasoned veterans who have simply moved to a new locale.

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If variety is the spice of life, it might also be the theme of Nikki Cuccio’s coaching career to this point. Still young in the profession, Cuccio’s career thus-far includes a stint as a Division III assistant coach, a tenure in the Florida Gulf Coast League during the summer, and a single year on staff at UConn.

Cuccio was part of the coaching staff that helped lead UConn to a Big East regular-season title last season, and she also served as an interim head coach in the FGCL after initially beginning her time in Florida as an assistant. Earlier this fall, Cuccio was announced as a new full-time assistant coach at Fordham.

Extra Inning Softball: When did you know that you wanted to pursue coaching as your career path?
Nikki Cuccio: I knew I wanted to be a collegiate softball coach after my sophomore year at Adelphi. Following my freshman year, I was amazed by how much I learned about the game and then once my sophomore year concluded, I realized how I could use what I learned on the field in my everyday life. I knew from that point on that I wanted to be someone who could use softball as a vehicle to help individuals become the best version of themselves.

Extra Inning Softball: Describe your coaching style. What do you feel are your biggest strengths as a coach?
Nikki Cuccio: I would describe my coaching style as passionate and professional. I invest time in continuing to grow the game and who I am as a person and a coach. I take pride in always expanding my knowledge of the game and being prepared. I believe energy is contagious and controllable. I value sharing energy to help create an atmosphere where bringing energy is encouraged. Lastly, I am proud to be who I am and where I have come from. I work every day to be a consistent version of myself and to motivate others.

My biggest strength as a coach is my willingness to invest time in the people around me. I love the sport of softball, I have for a long time, but what I love the most about my “job” is the relationships that are developed. It takes patience, trust and time but I love connecting with others.

Extra Inning Softball: Tell me what you gleaned from your previous coaching stops, including collegiately and in the FGCL. What, if anything, did you take away from each place you’ve coached that will help you as you continue to build your career?
Nikki Cuccio: Over the last four years, I have learned a lot both about myself, the game, and coaching. Throughout each stop, the most important aspect that I will continue to take with me is to care about the person before the player. Everyone goes through things throughout their lives. A lot of changes happen during the four or five years of college, so making sure to check in on both the student-athletes and other staff members is something I will continue to invest time in doing.
Something else I have realized that I will hold myself to is that there is no one better to be than yourself. There is more buy-in from others when we are consistent and our actions match our words.

Extra Inning Softball: Who are your biggest coaching influences and mentors? What impact has their influence had on your career?
Nikki Cuccio: I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunities to surround myself and pick the brains of some of the most knowledge and passionate people in our profession. I truly believe that we are able to learn something from everyone and I do my best to soak up every and any piece of advice that I can from coaches in all sports.
The first person that comes to mind when I think about who has influenced me to be a coach is my mom, who is a third-grade teacher. Coaching is teaching and teaching is coaching. From a young age, my siblings and I were surrounded by her creativity, ability to connect others, and genuine care for her students. She has modeled that there is nothing more rewarding than helping someone else succeed. I strive to have an impact on the live of our student-athletes just like my mom has on her students.
I am eager and excited to share an office with and learn from a former head coach in Coach Lapicki and Coach Inouye who have great experience both playing and coaching.

Extra Inning Softball: Having played and then begun your coaching career in the same region where you are now a full-time coach, how big of a benefit for you is that regional familiarity?
Nikki Cuccio: I take a lot of pride in being from the Northeast. As we know, it is crucial to be creative when having to be indoors with a limited amount of space due to the weather. That being said, my college coaches were innovative and made sure that we were prepared to compete at a high level. I was fortunate enough to learn many ways to teach a skill, especially with different amounts of available space. Each of the schools that I have had the opportunity to coach at have had different types of facilities and space available for training. The challenge of making sure our student-athletes are prepared to compete, even if their time on an actual field is limited, motivates me.

Extra Inning Softball: The last couple of years have not been easy for anyone in the coaching world… even though you entered the coaching profession post-pandemic, have the challenges of the current times in college athletics affected you much – or at all?
Nikki Cuccio: Everyone has their own challenges, whether it was pre- or post- pandemic, and those are the times honestly for me that I have grown the most. As someone who prioritizes welcoming conversation surrounding mental health and who is open with my own struggles, I encourage student-athletes, really anyone, to share their story and ask for help!

Extra Inning Softball: Let’s say we’re having this conversation one year from now, once you have a full season at Fordham under your belt. What needs to have happened during that season for you to be able to say ‘this was a successful year’?
Nikki Cuccio: As I mentioned, strong relationships with our student-athletes are the most important aspect of coaching for me. In order for this season to be a success in my book, I’d love to develop relationships with the student-athletes and the staff. Lastly, as coaches, it is our job to teach our student-athletes all aspects of the game and prepare them to have the best chance to be successful. I will feel that this was a successful year if they are able to step on the field each day during the championship season and feel as if they are prepared!