BARJAKTAREVIC NAMED DANA WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH

Dana College is happy to announce that it has hired Nik Barjaktarevic to take over the head coaching position of the college’s successful women’s soccer program.

“Nik is a great fit for Dana College,” said Jim Krueger, athletic director. “His knowledge of soccer and the GPAC, and his enthusiasm enable him to continue a successful women’s soccer program at Dana.”

Barjaktarevic comes to Dana after serving as a graduate assistant men’s soccer coach at Hastings 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. He also served as Hastings High School’s head boys’ soccer coach, leading the Tigers to their first winning season in school history.

Before Hastings, Barjaktarevic was a defensive standout for Union University in Tennessee. He was named Best Defensive Player and led the NAIA’s third-ranked defense in 2000, his first season. Originally from Belgrad in Serbia and Montenegro (part of the former Yugoslavia), Barjaktarevic was a member of several premier soccer teams before coming to the United States to continue his education.

“I was attracted to Dana because it is a small school and a private school,” Barjaktarevic said. “I hope to keep the things that are good about women’s soccer at Dana — and there are definitely a lot of good things about the program — and add on a new set of standards to move to the next level.”

Barjaktarevic will take over one of Dana’s most successful athletic programs. Even in the brutal GPAC, the Vikings have challenged for the championship for the last four years, placing first, third and second twice in the last four years. Many of the Vikings’ key players, including senior forward Michelle Glanz (Council Bluffs, Iowa), senior goalkeeper Melissa Respeliers (Council Bluffs, Iowa), senior midfielder Amanda Reddish (Council Bluffs, Iowa) and sophomore forward Nancy Steward (Elkhorn, Neb.) will return for the 2004 season.

“My goal is to strive for excellence in a lot of different ways,” Barjaktarevic said. “I want us to be a real team in everything that we’re doing, in play, conduct on the field, desire, fitness level and academics. We want to be a national contender in the next three years. I really want to bring a Division I mentality to Dana.”

Dana College is a place where all students actively participate. They make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business, education, art and social work, among others, ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate school.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.

Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re with you all the way.

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For more information contact:

Leslie Rasmussen
Sports Information Director
Dana College
(402) 426-7949
lrasmuss@dana.edu