DELAND, Fla. — Stetson Men's Soccer head coach Emmett Rutkowski has announced the addition of Nic Fischer as the program's goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Fischer joins the Hatters after spending the past three seasons at McKendree University, where he served as a graduate assistant from 2023-25 before being elevated to assistant coach in May 2025. During his time with the Bearcats, Fischer built a reputation for goalkeeper development, recruiting, and player analysis while helping mentor multiple all-conference performers.
As a member of the McKendree coaching staff, Fischer directed goalkeeper training sessions, conducted video analysis, assisted with match preparation, and played a key role in recruiting and player development.
His goalkeepers earned all-conference recognition in each of the past three seasons. In 2023, Christian Herluf earned All-GLVC Second Team honors before putting together a historic campaign in 2024. Fischer helped guide Herluf to the first Great Lakes Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year award in McKendree history while also earning a second consecutive All-GLVC Second Team selection.
During his award-winning 2024 season, Herluf led the GLVC in goals-against average (.391), save percentage (.841), and shutouts (12), while starting all 18 matches and playing all but six minutes. Following Fischer's promotion to assistant coach, he helped Toby Lewis earn All-GLVC Third Team honors in 2025, continuing the program's run of success in goal.
A former collegiate goalkeeper, Fischer played three seasons at Faulkner University from 2020-22. He appeared in 33 career matches, recording 140 saves and six shutouts while helping anchor the Eagles' defense. During his career, Fischer posted eight victories and logged nearly 3,000 minutes between the posts.
Fischer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Faulkner University in 2022 before completing his Master of Business Administration in Digital Marketing at McKendree University in 2025.
The addition of Fischer further strengthens a Stetson coaching staff coming off its tenth consecutive ASUN Championship appearance and an ASUN Championship Semifinal run in 2025.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
