Nerlande Nicolas enters her first year with the Rhode Island women's basketball program in 2011-12, after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant on the Rutgers-Newark staff.

In her time with the Scarlet Raiders, she helped build the program's recruiting database by creating recruiting schedules and packets while organizing official visits and giving campus tours. She was instrumental in bringing in 10 new players for the 2010-11 season, where the team improved its record by 12 wins from the previous year.

In addition to recruiting, Nicolas developed Rutgers-Newark's film exchange program while also assisting with film breakdown, on-court coaching, individual player development, post-season programs, practice planning, scouting and academics.

Prior to joining the Scarlet Raiders' coaching staff, Nicolas was a four-year starter for Rutgers-Newark from 2004-08. During that span, she helped lead the team to four straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament berths as well as four consecutive ECAC Metro Championship playoff bids. As a senior, she was named to the All-NJAC Second Team after finishing her career with 771 points, 324 rebounds, 272 assists and 171 steals.In her four years with the program, the team combined for an overall record of 65-40.

A native of Maplewood, N.J., Nicolas earned her undergraduate degree in Management in 2008, before obtaining her Masters in Public Administration in 2011. Both degrees came from Rutgers-Newark.

Updated Sept. 22, 2011