Nikki Hobaica (Kieffer) recently completed her sixth season as head coach of the Utica University field hockey program. The Utica field hockey alumna assumed that role beginning in the 2016 season. She previously spent one season as an assistant coach for Sarah Elleman in 2015, and was promoted immediately following that season. Hobaica is responsible for all facets of the Utica field hockey team.
Hobaica has won 54 matches in her first eight seasons at Utica, and has led the team to six Empire 8 tournament appearances in the last eight years. She has coached her players to a total of five NFHCA All-Region selections, and two of her former players have been chosen to the prestigious NFHCA Senior All-Star game. She has also coached a total of thirty-five All-Conference selections in her first eight years. Many of Hobaica's players have also routinely qualified for NFHCA National Academic Squad honors, as well as the Empire 8 Presidents’ List.
She has also been heavily involved in the community, and was the featured speaker at the Rome Sports Hall of Fame's 2020 National Girls and Women in Sports Day Breakfast.
The Fall 2023 season was highlighted by a trip to the Empire 8 Conference tournament semifinals. Going 7-11 overall and a 4-3 conference record, the team had five all-conference selections. This season Hobaica coached the Defensive Player of the Year in Madison Ranalli after she broke the school record in defensive saves in back to back seasons.
The Fall 2022 season was capped off with clinching a spot in the Empire 8 Conference tournament. The Pioneers went 8-10 on the season, posting a 6-3 conference record, and had five players chosen for all-conference selections. The all-conference selections were led by Mackenzie Mix and Chloe Williams.
The Spring 2021 season was highlighted by a spot in the Empire 8 Conference tournament. Along the way, four players were chosen to All-Conference teams, led by a first team selection for veteran forward Sabrina Whitehouse.
The 2019 season was a strong one for Hobaica and the Pioneers. She led her team to its second Empire 8 conference tournament appearance under her leadership. Utica finished third in the E8 in the regular season with a 6-1 conference record while going 8-10 overall. This team also saw seven all-conference selections -- Senior defender Ricki Haab and senior midfielder Josie Sgarlata were both first team choices in the annual survey of league coaches, junior forwards Sydney Scaccia and Sabrina Whitehouse each made the second team, and junior midfielders Jenny Robbins and Jeslyn Files were honorable mention choices. Abbey Fitzgerald was Utica’s representative on the E8 Sportswoman of the Year team. Whitehouse was later honored as an ECAC All-Star, while Haab and Sgarlata made the NFHCA All-Region teams.
Hobaica guided the Pioneers to a 6-11 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the Empire 8 in 2018. Hobaica’s squad also had success in the classroom as her team earned a collective GPA of 3.35. Rylee Meelan was chosen to the All-Conference and All-Region teams, and was later nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Three other Pioneers were also selected to the All-Conference teams.
In 2017, The Pioneers went 9-10 overall (4-3 Empire 8) and advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game, where they lost to top-seeded Washington & Jefferson College, 3-1. Four players were named All-Conference including Rylee Meelan, Sabrina Whitehouse, Sydney Scaccia, and Melissa Koch, with Meelan also picking up second team All-Region honors.
In her first season as a head coach, Hobaica led Utica to a 5-13 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Empire 8 Conference play. Hobaica coached three players to All-Conference selections, including sophomore Rylee Meelan and senior Rachael Scaramuzzino, who each earned second team recognition.
Hobaica graduated from Utica College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations – Sports Communication and also minored in Management. While at UC, she was a member of the field hockey and women’s hockey programs all four years. In her senior season of field hockey, she played in 18 games while starting in 17 and totaled 1,168 minutes. She led the team in assists with 10, ranking her tenth in the nation midway through the season.
She currently holds the school record for assists in a single game with four against Hamilton (10/1/14). Nikki was a part of all three Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship teams at UC, including two trips to the NCAA Sweet 16. She had the assist on the game-winning goal that sent UC to its first E8 title in 2012. Hobaica also captained the women’s ice hockey team as a senior defender.
Originally from Rome, NY, she is a 2011 graduate of Rome Free Academy where she captained the team her junior and senior season. In her senior season, Hobaica was named to the Section III All-Star team and helped lead the squad to a 13-2-3 overall record including its second consecutive trip to the Class A Section III final.
Nikki is the daughter of Peter and Carol Kieffer.
