Lake Forest College

Nicki Pieart became the Director of Athletics at Lake Forest College on March 1, 2022. Since then, the Foresters have built on their Tradition of Excellence, with the department recording 400 victories and a .570 overall winning percentage through the 2023-24 academic year. In conference play, the teams have posted an impressive .672 winning percentage, securing eight championships and making eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Forester coaches have been recognized with six conference coach of the year honors, while student-athletes have earned 118 all-conference selections and 20 player of the year awards. 

Equally impressive are the accomplishments in the classroom. During Pieart's time as Director, student-athletes have achieved 722 academic all-conference honors, 87 Academic All-District® distinctions, and nine MWC Elite 20 Awards. The College has also inducted 159 student-athletes into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society, reflecting the department’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. 

In 2024, Pieart was selected to serve on the NCAA Division III Management Council, one of the highest-level committees for athletic directors in the division. She is one of 23 members representing the interests of Division III institutions, where she works alongside presidents, administrators, and student-athletes to help shape policy and governance at the national level. 

Before joining Lake Forest, Pieart spent 14 years at Aurora University, where she held various roles in the athletic department. As Associate Athletic Director, she managed the athletic training department and was responsible for the health and safety of more than 700 student-athletes. She also oversaw the athletic department’s budget, as well as all aspects of NCAA compliance and eligibility. In her time at Aurora, she also spearheaded facility and event management, community service initiatives, departmental gender equity, and camps and clinics while directly supervising four Spartan sports. 

In addition to her official positions within the athletic department, Pieart served on several key committees at Aurora, fostered relationships with local organizations to provide weekly community service opportunities for the Spartan student-athletes, was a member of the NCAA Men's Soccer Regional Advisory Committee, and chaired the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Senior Woman Administrator, Athletic Training, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. She also completed a term as Chair of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport in 2023, focusing on advancing student-athlete well-being. 

A two-sport athlete in both high school and college, Pieart played basketball and soccer at Aurora University and was inducted into the Aurora West High School Hall of Fame in 2023. She earned a bachelor's degree from Aurora University in 2004 and a master's degree in education from Northern Illinois University in 2007. Before returning to her collegiate alma mater, Pieart worked as an athletic trainer with ATI Physical Therapy, the Chicago Bandits, and Benedictine University.

Pieart resides in nearby Deerfield.