Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic Biography
Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic is the first head coach for the women’s soccer program at The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College.

In his first season as head coach for the Scorpions, UTB/TSC posted a 13-7 record. The Scorpions finished third during the Red River Athletic Conference regular season but won the RRAC Tournament to advance to the NAIA Region VI Tournament. In the regional quarterfinals, the Scorpions lost to Southern Nazarene University, 2-0.

The Scorpions landed eight players on the All-Conference, seven on the first team and one on the second team. UTB/TSC also had four players on the All-Region team, two on the first team and two on the second team, and two players were named to the NAIA All-America Team Honorable Mention list.

Barjaktarevic came to UTB/TSC after a three-year stint as head women’s soccer coach at Dana (Neb.) College, located just north of Omaha. At Dana, his program produced 17 All-Conference players, two NAIA All-Region players, two NAIA All-Americans and 9 NAIA Academic All-Americans players. His teams were recognized for outstanding academic achievement with National Soccer Coaches Assocaition of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award, boosting team GPA to 3.50.

Previously, Barjaktarevic served as a graduate assistant men’s soccer coach at Hastings (Neb.) College. During his time there, the Broncos were 45-4-1, clinched the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title twice, and finished No. 18 and No. 3 in the NAIA overall rankings. While assisting at Hastings College he also served as Hastings High School’s head boys’ soccer coach for two seasons, leading the Tigers to their first winning season in school history. He continued his involvement with high school soccer in Blair where he was the head boys’ soccer coach for Blair High School in 2004.

His interest in the growth and development of soccer is recognized in his work with Nebraska State Soccer Association ODP (Olympic Development Program) where he served as a coach for various teams between 2002 and 2005.

As a part of the soccer community, Barjaktarevic was involved in variety of other soccer camps, clinics and activities such as Bob Warming's Creighton Soccer Academy, John Keating’s Fast Footwork Program, Nebraska State Soccer Association & Region II Camps, and while at Dana and Blair.

Before coming to Nebraska, Barjaktarevic was a defensive standout for Union (Tenn.) University. He was named Best Defensive Player and led the NAIA’s third-ranked defense in 2000, his first season.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Health degree from Union University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Hastings College and a United States Soccer Federation National "B" Coaching License.

Originally from Belgrade in Serbia (part of the former Yugoslavia), Barjaktarevic was a member of several premier soccer teams before coming to the United States to continue his education. His name is pronounced "Barr-jacque-tah-rre-vich."


Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic addresses press next to Scorpion Athletics Director Dan Huntley