Women’s soccer coach Michael Moynihan announced Wednesday that David Nikolic has joined the Northwestern staff as an assistant coach.

“I am extremely excited to have David join me at Northwestern,” Moynihan told NUSports.com. “David brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and we share a similar vision. He also is incredibly passionate about the sport and his strong character makes him a positive role model for the team.”

Nikolic was a coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee with Moynihan for 18 years, serving the last nine as assistant head coach.

He was named the 2011 NSCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, after helping the Panthers to a 19-win season.

The Milwaukee, Wis., native previously coached in the USL W-League with the Chicago Red Eleven.

“I’m very excited to come to Northwestern and be a part of the Wildcat family,” Nikolic told NUSports.com. “Mike and I have had a great working relationship for the last 18 years and I expect that to continue. We’ve known each other about 30 years, so we’re pretty in tune with what each other can do, and I look to support him in every possible way. We have great aspirations for this program.”

Nikolic is the first member of Moynihan’s coaching staff to be announced.