Contact information for Coach Nussbaum
Office phone: 419-358-3010
E-mail: nussbaumr@bluffton.edu
“It is a pleasure to announce Rick’s appointment as head coach. In his interim role, Rick’s leadership this past season yielded positive results both on and off the field,” Talavinia said. “We are excited for Rick to draw from his past head coaching successes as he develops strong soccer programs at Bluffton.”
Nussbaum, who holds a master of business administration degree from the university, replaces Steve Smucker, who resigned after seven seasons as head men’s and women’s coach.
The Bluffton, Ohio, resident was also a member of the 1987 and 1988 men’s teams at Hesston, where he earned an associate degree in liberal arts in 1989, as well as the 1989 and 1990 teams at Goshen College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 1991. He was the assistant men’s coach at Goshen from 1992-94.
A licensed soccer official, he has also been athletic director at Dayton Christian High School (2001-05); head coach of the Dayton Galaxies, a U-18 boys’ soccer team (2003-04); and manager of the Elkhart Soccer Arena (1994-95).
Nussbaum holds an Advanced National License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as well as a Level II Goalkeeping Certificate. He currently resides in Bluffton with his wife Aphaphanh and his two children, Logan and Sydney.
Contact info for Coach Skoda
Office phone: 419-358-3488
E-mail: skodaa@bluffton.edu
Abigail Skoda returns to the Bluffton University women's soccer coaching staff for her second season. She graduated from Capital University in 2008 with honors in Health and Fitness Management. Coach Skoda spent the past summer playing semi-professional soccer in the WPSL Elite.
Abigail was the head boy's coach at Northridge High School, Mid-Buckeye Conference Coach of the Year, and a girl's coach for the Freedom Soccer Club in Columbus prior to her time at Bluffton. Abigail did her college internship as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Columbus Crew in 2008, winning the MLS championship. As a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Association of Sports Management, Abigail has spent the past three years as a strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer in Columbus. A four-year starter at Capital University, Abigail was a captain, won a conference championship, won two Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championships, made two NCAA appearances, garnered all-conference honors, and participated in the Regional All-Star Game. Abigail also participated in Capital's basketball and track programs, earning various awards.Abigail is native of Ashland, Ohio where she was a varsity starter, earned two conference championships, team honors, and all-league honors for Ashland High School.
Abigail will be continuing her education at Bluffton in the Masters of Business Administration program and is very much looking forward to influencing the school and program tremendously in a positive way. Bluffton Head Coach Rick Nussbaum is excited to have Abby’s added background in personal training and her wealth of experience and successes at the NCAA Division III level in women’s soccer.
Contact info for Coach Ahmed
Office phone: 419-358-3237
E-mail: ahmedm@bluffton.edu
Mustaq Ahmed returns to the Bluffton University soccer program for his sixth year as a women's assistant coach in 2012. He is also the buildings and grounds supervisor at Bluffton University.
Ahmed played soccer for Bluffton from 1974 through 1977 after arriving in the United States as a foreign student through MCC from Dhaka, Bangladesh, so he is very familiar with the university and the community of Bluffton.
From 1983-93, Ahmed coached youth soccer for Bluffton Family Recreation in the Black Swamp Soccer League (BSSL) during both the spring and fall seasons, developing his love for teaching the game to young players. He started the Under-14 travel teams for boys and girls in Bluffton, directing squads in the Northwest Ohio Youth Soccer League. (NYOSL) His first girls' team took home the Spring Championship trophy in 1993.
In 1996, Ahmed started the girls' high school program at Bluffton and he led the team until 2002. While coaching at Bluffton High School, he was named the Division II Coach of the Year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for District 4. Four times his squads competed in the district championship game and the Pirates were a regional finalist once during his tenure at Bluffton.
Recently, Ahmed led the Under-14 travel team for the West Central United based in Lima from 2004-07.
Ahmed resides near Bluffton with his wife of 35 years, Becki. They are the parents of 31-year old Sarah, who lives in Columbus, and 27-year old Sabrina, who was a two-time all-state selection from the Bluffton High School girl's soccer team and now lives in Findlay.
