CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas Director of Athletics Matt Whiting announces a pair of changes, one to the department's administration and one to its women's soccer staff. Head Coach Jeremy Bishop will be transitioning to a new role for the Bears, joining the administration as the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, while Associate Head Coach Derek Nichols will be elevated to Head Coach for women's soccer.
 
"I am excited to add Jeremy Bishop to our leadership team in athletics, as Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Jeremy is well respected throughout our department and brings valuable knowledge and experience in this administrative role. Jeremy's character, work ethic, and leadership skills are tremendous assets for our department, and I am excited to see him take on this new challenge.
 
"I am also thrilled to elevate Derek Nichols to Head Women's Soccer Coach. Coach Nichols has been a mainstay in our women's soccer program and has contributed greatly to our success through the years. As Derek steps into the Head Coach role, I look forward to working with him and seeing his leadership impact our program in the years to come." Whiting said.
 
Bishop, who holds a master's degree from Central Arkansas, leaves behind 13 seasons and a program-record 122 wins behind as he moves into administration. He will now take a leadership role and oversee critical day-to-day and game day operations regarding media relations and sports information in his new role, handing the keys of a program he has overseen since 2012 to his long-time associate head coach.
 
"I want to thank Matt for the opportunity in the new role and the trust he is placing in me to work with our administrators and athletes," Bishop said. "I also want to thank Matt and Brad Teague for allowing me to lead the women's soccer program for the past 13 years. It has been my honor to work with so many wonderful young ladies and athletes. I love UCA and I'm looking forward to continuing in this new role."
 
Bishop led the Bear to their winningest season in program history in 2018, winning 16 games and peaking at 50 in the RPI. He led the Bears to two NCAA Tournaments, coaching multiple players of the year, 46 all-conference players and nine all-region selections.
 
"It's exciting, it's been a goal of mine for the past several years to move into an administrative role. So, I'm excited to help lead the athletic department and work with all of the student-athletes moving forward," Bishop added. "Change is always hard, but the opportunity presented itself, in an area I'm definitely interested in. When we came here 13 years ago, the goal of ours as a family was be here, our youngest just graduated high school, so the timing made a lot of sense. Coach Nichols is incredibly deserving and ready, he's been here with me the whole time, so it just all fell into place."
 
Nichols is no stranger to Central Arkansas or leading a soccer program, having played for the Bears before starting on a 30-year soccer coaching experience, including nine years as head coach at Lyon and Newman. He has been with the Bears for 13 years, including 12 as associate head coach, guiding the Bears to two Southland Conference Championships, nine conference tournament appearances, coaching multiple Players of the Year, and helping guide eight Bears to the professional ranks.
 
"I played here in the late 90s, went to grad school here, then went away for nine years to be a head coach. I left those places to be at the Division I level, and have been here with Jeremy for 13 years, so to finally be able to get to do this is awesome. I'm so… excited is an understatement," Nichols said. "I'm ready to get things going and see what we can do this next year and in the future. To be able to do what Jeremy and I were able to do all these years, not only as coaches, but as friends, it's awesome to see him move forward in his career and still be around. It's a good move for him, and I'm very appreciative of the time we were able to spend together.
 
"I also want to thank Matt and Jessie Taylor for the opportunity and trust, I'm looking forward to leading this program and I believe that we have a bright future in front of us."
 
The move comes after 31 years of service from Steve East, who retired from his position as Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations at Central Arkansas after the 2024-25 season.