FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information Contact: William Raycraft, Malden Catholic Director of Athletics at raycraftw@maldencatholic.org

MALDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL HIRES NICO PAPAS

AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR COACH

Malden, MA – April 14, 2025 – Malden Catholic is proud to announce the official appointment of Nico Papas as its Varsity Football Defensive Coordinator.  A proven leader, coach, and mentor, Papas brings over a decade of experience as a standout athlete, elite coach, and nationally recognized recruiting consultant. His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Malden Catholic Football and the broader student-athlete community it serves.

As a former All-State Defensive Lineman and All-New England Fullback, Papas was recruited by programs across every level of college football before choosing Columbia University (FCS, Ivy League). There, he became a four-year varsity player and full-time starter at Fullback. In his senior year, he earned recognition as the team’s "Unsung Hero" and was named a National Scholar-Athlete.

After graduating from Columbia with a degree in Sociology, Papas co-founded Premier Football Consulting (PFC), a nationally renowned organization that has helped over 1,000 student-athletes find success in the college recruiting process. Under his leadership, PFC has placed athletes at schools including UCLA, Notre Dame, Harvard, Army, Navy, Amherst, Claremont McKenna, UChicago, and more—with over 80% of clients landing at Top 100 academic institutions.

“Nico Papas is one of the most respected minds in the game when it comes to player development, defensive schemes and college recruiting,” said William Raycraft, Athletic Director “His integrity, football IQ, and commitment to helping student-athletes reach their full potential set him apart as a true leader in this space.”

Papas also brings a rich background in coaching, most recently serving as the Defensive Coordinator at The Roxbury Latin School, where he helped create the #1 scoring defense in their division and mentored multiple All-League players. He has previously coached at BB&N and in the Elite Football League, where he led the Metrowest Maulers and worked with rising talent from across New England.

In addition to his consulting and coaching work, Papas has served as a key contributor to the New England Elite and West Coast Elite Football Clinics, two of the country’s largest privately owned recruiting showcases, supporting operations and outreach efforts that impact over 1,300 athletes and 300 college coaches annually.

“I’ve been fortunate to play, coach, and consult in this game at nearly every level,” said Papas. “What drives me is helping student-athletes find their best path—on the field and in life. As a member of a school rich in tradition like Malden Catholic, I’m excited to expand that mission and build something truly special.”

Please join us in congratulating Nico Papas on this exciting new role. His leadership will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of scholar-athletes and elevating the standard of excellence with Malden Catholic Football.

ABOUT MALDEN CATHOLIC

Since 1932, Malden Catholic has shaped emerging leaders in our community, claiming a Nobel Laureate, a Senator, two ambassadors and countless community and business heads among its alumni. Annually, graduates attend some of the nation’s most renown universities including Harvard, Georgetown, Brown, Cornell, Tufts, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Amherst College. Foundational to student success is Malden Catholic's codivisional model which offers the best of both worlds, single-gender academics during the day and integrated social and extracurricular opportunities after school. Malden Catholic is known in the community for its rigorous academics, SFX Scholars Program and award-winning STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with electives such as Robotics and Engineering Design. Malden Catholic curriculum is designed to improve individual growth mindset, leadership principles, success outcomes along with integrating the Xaverian values of trust, humility, compassion, simplicity and zeal. https://www.maldencatholic.org/