Nate DiCasmirro was named Head Coach of the Wheeling Nailers on July 20, 2026.

DiCasmirro, 47, earned his first head coaching opportunity with the Nailers, after most recently serving as the associate coach for the Graz 99ers in Austria's ICE Hockey League. The 99ers experienced a 54-point improvement during Nate's first season with the club in 2024-25, then won the league's championship this past season with a perfect 12-0 record in the playoffs.

This will be DiCasmirro's ninth season as a coach, following the conclusion of his playing career in 2018-19. His first coaching job came with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, when he worked under former Nailers Assistant Coach Gene Reilly. The Buccaneers finished fourth in the Western Conference, and won their opening round playoff series. After one-year stops with EC-KAC II of the Alps Hockey League and St. Cloud of the North American Hockey League, Nate advanced to the American Hockey League, where he spent three seasons. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, he was an assistant coach for the Iowa Wild under Head Coach Tim Army. The 2022-23 campaign resulted in one of two playoff appearances in Iowa's 13-year history. In 2023-24, Nate worked under former Nailer Colin Chaulk as an assistant coach for the Bakersfield Condors. Bakersfield won 39 games that season - the club's second highest total in 11 AHL seasons.

The native of Atikokan, Ontario enjoyed a long 17-year professional playing career, with seven seasons in the American Hockey League, then ten seasons throughout Europe. DiCasmirro began his career by playing in 401 games in the AHL. His best team season in the AHL was 2002-03, when the Hamilton Bulldogs reached the Calder Cup Final. His best individual season came in 2005-06, when he tallied 52 points with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In Europe, Nate did a lot of winning, starting with an Italian Supercup Championship in his first year with HC Bolzano in 2008-09. That was the first of six championships in nine years for DiCasmirro, who won another Italian Supercup in 2011-12, two Italian Cup Championships in 2010-11 and 2012-13, an EIHL Playoff Championship in 2013-14, and a Slovenian Championship in 2016-17. Additionally, Nate played internationally for Team Italy on six occasions, which included a Silver Medal at the 2012-13 World Championship (D1A) and two qualifying tournaments for the Winter Olympics.

Nate and his wife Sabrina have two daughters - 14-year-old Gianna and eight-year-old Avianna.

Jason Payne was named Associate Coach of the Wheeling Nailers on August 4, 2026.

Payne, 50, has coached in the ECHL for the last seven seasons. His first coaching opportunity in the league came in 2018, when he joined the Cincinnati Cyclones as an assistant coach. During Jason's first season, Cincinnati posted a 51-13-8 record and 110 points to capture the Brabham Cup for the best regular season record in the ECHL. Payne spent one more season as an assistant coach under Matt Thomas with the Cyclones, before being promoted to the club's head coach for the 2021-22 season. Jason led Cincinnati to a 76-point finish and a playoff appearance in his first season as head coach, then won the Central Division Championship in 2022-23, as he guided the team to a 47-16-9 mark, good for 103 points. Payne spent two more seasons with the Cyclones, finishing his tenure with a 143-114-31 record in his four years as head coach. Last season, Jason served as associate coach for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

The Toronto, Ontario native also enjoyed a 14-year playing career, as he played professionally in the AHL, the ECHL, and the UHL. Payne was a physical player, who was willing to drop the gloves with anyone in his path. Jason appeared in 416 games in the three aforementioned leagues and totaled 27 goals, 38 assists, 65 points, and 1,448 penalty minutes. Payne's final destination as a player was Wheeling, as he played in 18 regular season games and two playoff contests with the Nailers in 2008-09. Jason becomes the sixth former Nailers player who has gone on to be a coach for the team, following Chris Jensen, Joe Harney, Derek Army, Brad Drobot, and Ryan Kuwabara.

Jason and his wife Ashley have three daughters - 19-year-old Milajae, eight-year-old Malia and two-year-old Mylah.

Bill Higgins grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, where he was an avid fan of the Thunderbirds and Nailers. A graduate of Wheeling Park High School, Higgins began his career with the Nailers as an assistant equipment manager, before being promoted to the head role in 2003. Bill is the only member of the organization to ever work 1,000 games, as he reached that milestone during the 2016-17 season. He will work his 1,500th game on November 2nd. Other notable career accomplishments for Higgins include working the 2007 ECHL All-Star Classic in Boise, Idaho, and being named the 2013-14 ECHL Equipment Manager of the Year. 2024-25 will be Higgins' 22nd season as the team's equipment manager.

Cole Koontz was named Athletic Trainer of the Nailers on August 19, 2025.

Prior to being named to the role as the head athletic trainer, Koontz spent three seasons with the organization, as he worked as a student athletic trainer in 2021-22, then served as an assistant athletic trainer from 2023-25.

Cole's path to the Nailers was created through his studies, as he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training from West Liberty University. He worked with six different teams for the Hilltoppers, including the men's basketball team, which won two MEC Championships at WesBanco Arena.

Koontz furthered his education by studying Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. Cole gained valuable experience through the university, thanks to a 15-week clinical with the Providence Bruins, which gave him the opportunity to work an NHL preseason game in Boston.

A native of Sherrard, West Virginia, Koontz is the third Ohio Valley native to become Wheeling's athletic trainer, following current West Liberty University Professor Dr. David Hanna and current Iowa Wild Athletic Trainer Daniel Barker.