Meet Jon and Nichole Sandoval, a dynamic couple whose journey started at Western Illinois University (WIU) and continued to the picturesque shores of Lake Superior in Marquette, MI.
Their story began at a soccer house party while they were both attending WIU in Macomb, IL. That night they crossed paths but didn’t think they would see each other again. Another year rolled around, and Nichole moved to the Quad Cities (where Jon lived at the time) for an internship where fate brought them together again. However, despite Jon’s efforts, Nichole remained focused on her studies and was planning to make another move after graduation. After one more year, destiny intervened, plans changed, and they both still lived in the Quad Cities. They reconnected and had a charming first date orchestrated by Jon, which led them on a voyage where they quickly fell in love.
In pursuit of new horizons, the Sandovals found themselves in the U.P., lured by the natural wonders of Marquette and Jon’s coaching opportunity at Northern Michigan University (NMU).
Since their move in the summer of 2018, they’ve made Marquette their home and enjoy working with the NMU community.
Jon, with his passion for soccer, serves as the Head Coach of the Women’s Soccer Team at NMU. Under his leadership, the team clinched its first-ever conference championship last fall, making it to the NCAA national tournament for the second consecutive year. Jon also takes on the role of Director of Coaching for Marquette United, fostering connections within the local soccer community. Jon thoroughly enjoys both of his roles. He was born and raised in East Moline, IL (one of the Quad Cities), and is a WIU psychology graduate. Jon’s journey seamlessly blends his love for soccer and community engagement.
Nichole, on the other hand, found her niche at NMU as the Assistant Director of the Center for Student Enrichment (CSE), also known as the “office of fun”. She thrives on creating a sense of belonging for NMU students through events and programming. Where she mainly works with student organizations, events like Fall Fest, a campus engagement platform known as The Hub NMU, the Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP), and advises the Special Events Committee, who host campus wide events and community events like the Homecoming parade. Nichole finds joy in connecting with students and the community through her role. She was born and raised in Macomb, IL and is a WIU alum with a degree in Marketing and Communications.
Away from their professional lives, the Sandovals are reveling in the happiness of parenthood with their pride and joy, baby Augie. While navigating the challenges of being first-time parents, they cherish every moment, even if it comes with a bit of sleep deprivation.
In their free time, you’ll find the Sandovals embracing the beauty of the U.P. and savoring the precious moments of family life. Meet the Sandovals—a couple whose love story continues to unfold.