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University of North Georgia

University of North Georgia Athletics
 82 College Circle Dahlonega, GA 30597
Division 2 Georgia Southeast
Public Large Competitive team
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Coaches

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Anel Lilic

After his first complete season as the full-time head coach and an interim season the year prior, Anel Lilic returns to the pitch for his third season as the head coach of UNG men’s soccer.


After Lilic led the 2023 squad to a season of firsts where the Nighthawks posted a 9-8-2 overall mark and 5-3-2 record in Peach Belt Conference play, resulting in his promotion to full time head coach, he upped the ante in 2024.


With an 8-6-3 record in the regular season and a 6-3-1 mark in conference matches, Lilic and the Nighthawks finished in second place in the PBC for the second time in program history and first time since 2016. UNG went on to advance to the PBC Tournament Semifinals for the second year in a row and the first time in back-to-back seasons since 2008.


After having five PBC All-Conference selections and the Freshman of the Year for the first time in program history in 2023, Lilic mentored another quintet of all-conference selections in 2024 including PBC Freshman of the Year Jorge Sandoval.


Sandoval and sophomore Aram Lara were also named to the United Soccer Coaches Southeast All-Region Team in 2024, marking the program’s first all-region winners since 2018.


North Georgia's nine wins in 2023 were the most in the previous six seasons for the UNG men's soccer program and marked only the third winning season since 2011. Lilic led the team to a late-season four-match winning streak marking the first time the Nighthawks were victorious in four straight matches since a program-record 10-match winning streak that dates back to the 2004 season. The streak was highlighted by a late 2-1 home win over No. 16 Clayton State.


Under Lilic's direction, the Nighthawks finished unbeaten (7-0-1) in home matches at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park in 2023.


Prior to his time at UNG, Lilic worked with Atlanta United as a goalkeepers coach in the Regional Development School after a stint with Georgia Southern's women's soccer program. Prior to that, Lilic served as head coach at Flowery Branch High School, working with the girls' soccer program.


In his two-year tenure at FBHS, the Lady Falcons were 41-4-2 and reached the state semifinal and state championship.


Lilic also served as a head coach for several age groups on the boys' side at Gwinnett Soccer Academy (GSA) and is a goalkeeper coach with the Olympic Development Program (ODP).


Collegiately, he worked in Dahlonega as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant with the UNG men's soccer for six years beginning in 2013.


Lilic moved to Georgia from Sarajevo, Bosnia. He played collegiate soccer at Emmanuel College where he earned All-Region honors.

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Omar Jarun

Omar Jarun returns to UNG for his second season as the Nighthawk assistant coach after an outstanding year in 2024.


In the 2024 season, the Nighthawks had five players named to the PBC All-Conference for the second consecutive season and just the second time in program history. UNG’s versatility was on display with the accolades as two forwards, two midfielders and a defender earned all-conference nods. A rookie striker in Jorge Sandoval was also named the second consecutive and second-ever PBC Freshman of the Year in program history.


Sandoval and sophomore Aram Lara were also named to the United Soccer Coaches Southeast All-Region Team in 2024, marking the program’s first all-region winners since 2018.


Most recently Jarun was an assistant coach with Huntsville City Football Club in Huntsville, Ala. An affiliate of Nashville Soccer Club's Major League of Soccer team, Huntsville City FC played in the MLS Next Pro collection.


With Huntsville, Jarun worked to help build the team's roster, assist with team strategy and philosophy, support training exercises and scout both opponents and prospective players.


Jarun spent the 2023 season with the club and while he was there the team finished with a 9-12-7 record.


Before Huntsville, Jarun spent time with Atlanta United 2 also in the MLS Next Pro. Jarun was with Atlanta United for two years from 2021 to 2023 and helped build the club's roster, provide tactical and strategic analysis of opponents and provide player instruction.


Jarun is a former head coach after guiding Peachtree City MOBA in the United Soccer League 2 for the 2018 season. He also spent time as a head coach in Atlanta United's Academy program from 2018 to 2021 leading the U13, U15 and U16 teams.


As a professional player, Jarun's career spans 186 games over nine years. He played with 10 different teams which included being a Palestinian National Team member for seven years.


Jarun, originally born in Kuwait, lived in Palestine as a child after his family moved there. In 1991, during the beginning of the first Gulf War, Jarun and his family fled the country to the United States. Years later, he represented his home team on July 3, 2011 while suiting up for the Palestinian National Team in a World Cup qualifying match. It was the first World Cup match to ever take place on Palestinian soil. Jarun was also the first Palestinian to ever play in Belgium when he signed with Sporting Charleroi of the Jupiler Pro League in 2012.


In the states, Jarun spent a season in the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club. There he played in 24 games during the 2008 season. His pro career began with the since disbanded Atlanta Silverbacks in the United Soccer League in 2006. Jarun played 45 games in three years with the team before heading to Vancouver. In 2007 the Silverbacks were the USL Runner Up and in 2008 he helped the club to a USL Championship.

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