Nikki Andrade is the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Delaware softball program in Newark, Delaware. She joined the Blue Hens staff before the 2019 season and was elevated to associate head coach in June 2026.
Since arriving at Delaware, Andrade has been part of one of the most successful stretches in program history. In the Blue Hens' first Conference USA season in 2026, Delaware finished 31-24 overall and 17-10 in league play, giving the program its first run of three straight 30-win seasons. The team put together an 11-game winning streak in April, won 12 straight home games from late March into May, and recorded a nine-game conference winning streak. Delaware also reached at least 40 home runs in consecutive seasons for the first time. Offensively, the Blue Hens set school single-season marks for walks and hit by pitches and established a program record for runs in a conference tournament game. They also produced one of the best seasons in school history in runs, home runs, on-base percentage, total bases, extra-base hits, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and hits. Delaware's 12-3 conference win over Liberty on March 28 was notable both for the margin and for the number of runs scored against the Flames. Andrade's 2026 recruiting class also made an immediate impact, as freshmen Maddie Diamond and Allie Nankivell earned first-team all-conference honors, becoming only the second freshman duo in program history to do so.
