Wolf Pack Adds Monforte
RENO, Nev. — The University of Nevada ski team, entering its fourth season back in Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, NCAA competition, has tapped alumnus and former U.S. ski cross racer Nico Monforte as its new assistant alpine coach ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Head coach Cameron Smith said Monforte’s history with Nevada and deep ties to the North Tahoe ski community make him an ideal fit for the Wolf Pack program.
“As a Nevada Ski Team alumnus and local of North Tahoe, Nico has a deep understanding of Nevada Skiing,” Smith said. “He’s passionate about the team’s success on and off the hill. Nico will seamlessly step into this role because he embodies our team’s ‘Nevada Grit’ culture—hard work and determination.”
Racing Career and Nevada Roots
Monforte grew up in Olympic Valley, Calif., and began his career with the Squaw Valley Ski Team before moving into ski cross in 2012. He competed in seven Ski Cross World Cups between 2012 and 2014, raced on the NorAm Cup circuit, and appeared in multiple World Junior Championships.
An injury ahead of the 2014 World Juniors put him out of competition temporarily. During recovery, Monforte enrolled at Nevada and raced ski cross for the Wolf Pack club team. He returned to the World Junior Championships in 2016 as the top U.S. male finisher.
At Nevada, he helped the men’s club team win the 2018 national ski cross title and earned two individual national titles in 2017 and 2018. He also raced alpine events for the Wolf Pack, with a best result of fourth in giant slalom at the 2017 national championships.
Coaching and Professional Experience
After graduating, Monforte served as Lead FIS Coach for the Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation during the 2018-19 season. He later co-founded TruckHouse, a manufacturer of expedition vehicles, before returning to coaching full-time.
Returning to the Pack
Monforte said the chance to help shape Nevada’s next generation of skiers is both an honor and an opportunity.
“I am honored and excited to return to the Pack and contribute to the long legacy of the Nevada Ski Team,” Monforte said. “We have a strong roster of student-athletes which I’m eager to work with and, alongside Coach Smith, I’m committed to helping them take full advantage of our world-class training venues and perform at the highest level.”
His hiring marks another step forward in Nevada’s effort to reestablish itself as a championship-caliber program in its third season back in NCAA competition.
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