Nico Soto comes to Ellsworth Community College to join the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the talented coaching staff at ECC, coach Nico was a men’s basketball manager for the University of North Florida. Nico also spent time as an assistant coach with the Florida Bayhawks in the Puma NXT Circuit. He also spent time with Transfer Tapes, assisting in highlight video production.
During his time at UNF, Nico helped with all aspects of the team; including videography, scouting, recruiting, and operations. He was also largely responsible for assisting in player development during practice and individual workouts. Nico’s efforts assisted in the development of ASUN All-Conference honorees Chaz Lanier, Carter Hendrickson, Jose Placer, and All-Freshman honoree Jaylen Smith. His duties also helped the Ospreys lead the entire nation in Division 1 Basketball for threes made per game during the 2023-24 season.
The Florida native was born and raised in Tampa, FL, and graduated from the University of North Florida with a Sport Management degree in May 2024.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the staff here at Ellsworth Community College. I look forward to building on to the winning culture that Coach Bender has established in such a short time. I know that my time at the Division 1 level will provide the players with a unique perspective on, not only what it takes to reach the next level but, what It means to stay there and thrive in the new portal era. My goal is to help these young men grow into the best possible version of themselves. I’m extremely blessed and excited to have my first opportunity here in Iowa Falls at ECC,” commented coach Nico.
The ECC men’s basketball head coach, Bryan Bender, is thrilled to have Coach Nico sitting among the best on the ECC coaching staff. “I am excited to be a part of Nico’s journey as a young coach and look forward to helping him navigate the position. He is young, hungry, and eager to work. He fits our core values of passion, humility, and discipline. Nico will be an asset to our program. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having spent time at the NCAA DI level. Having been a manager myself, I am partial to managers – especially those who want to coach. I can’t wait to watch him grow and be a part of our culture,” replied Coach Bender.
The ECC men’s basketball brings a stacked roster to the ’24-’25 basketball season. The team is coming off their best season, yet, after finishing with a 29-8 record, and a 4th place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament. The Panther basketball team will be one to watch during the upcoming ’24-’25 season. For a complete schedule, visit the Panther Athletics website at www.eccathletics.com.
https://www.eccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/releases/Nico_Soto_Named_ECC_Men
