Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

One of the very best midfielders in William Smith field hockey history, Nicole Livingston Huston ’02 led the Herons to a 66-15 record in her four years, including three Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Championships and four consecutive postseason bids. She reached the pinnacle of college field hockey, assisting on the game-winning goal in the 2000 national championship game and earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

The native of Whitney Point, New York, produced 40 goals and 38 assists for 118 points during her career. She graduated with the program records for career assists and single season assists and ranked fourth in career points and seventh in career goals. She is currently third in career assists, eighth in career points and 15th in career goals. Her assist in the 2000 title game was her 15th of the season, breaking the record previously held by Tina Warner ’95.

The Herons were the national runner-up during her first season, captured the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Championship the following year, won the program’s third national championship in her junior year and advanced to the 2001 NCAA quarterfinals. Huston was the MVP of the 1999 ECAC Tournament, recording three goals and two assists during the team’s three-game run to the title.

After her senior season, Huston was named to the NFHCA All-America first team, all-region first team, and was a North-South Senior All-Star. She was also an NYSCWCAA first team All-State selection, and a second team All-UCAA selection in that same year. In 2000, Huston was an NFCHA second team All-American, all-region, second team All-ECAC, and first team All-UCAA. During her sophomore campaign, she was named an NFHCA first team All-Region player, a first team All-UCAA pick, and garnered NYSWCAA second team All-State recognition. Huston was the UCAA Rookie of the Year in 1998.

Huston, who also played on the 1998-99 Heron basketball team that advanced to the NCAA round of 16 and worked as a student athletic trainer at HWS. 

At the annual Heron Awards Banquet, Huston was awarded the 2002 Melissa Mulliken ’80 Award, for excellence and leadership in athletics, combined with off-the-field endeavors. She also received the 2002 Joseph N. Abraham Award for perseverance through injury. 

After graduating from William Smith with a bachelor’s degree in health and human development, Huston earned a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in secondary education.

One of the most accomplished high school field hockey coaches in New York State, Huston has guided her teams to eight state championships, including five in a row from 2014 to 2018, and 12 Section IV championships. She earned state coach of the year honors in 2018 and was inducted into the Section IV Hall of Fame in 2022.