Rick Nese (1991-95) is a Penn Hills High School graduate. He was an extremely athletic and aggressive soccer player, a dual-sport athlete, and a head and assistant coach while at Behrend. After transferring into the Behrend community, Nese led the soccer team from the defender position. After his outstanding first season for the blue and white, he was named to the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Conference All-Star Team.
Nese was also a member of the 1991 Behrend Lions baseball team. After he completed his playing career, he then served as an assistant to the soccer programs for four seasons. He served as the head coach of the women's club team in 1994 and led the team a perfect 6-0 mark. The women's soccer program has since managed to post an impressive 101-50-10 mark, win four AMCC championships, and make four postseason appearances in eight years of competition.