2008 Women's Soccer
Record: 9-5-1 Home: 4-1-1 Away: 5-3-0 Neutral: 0-1 RRAC: 6-1
2008 Women's Soccer Coaches
Nik Barjaktarevic Image
Nik Barjaktarevic
Head Coach
2nd Season
Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic was named the first coach for the new women's soccer program at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College on April 2007.
 
In his first season as head coach for the Scorpions in 2007, 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.
 
In his second season in 2008, the Scorpions posted a record of 8-6-1 and shared the RRAC regular season championship. UTB/TSC advanced to the semifinals of the RRAC tournament.
 
The Scorpions landed eight players on the All-Conference, seven on the first team and one on the second team in 2007. 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, 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."
 
Christian Gallucci Image
Christian Gallucci
Assistant Coach
2nd Season
Christian Gallucci was named Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College in August 2006.

He previously worked as Assistant Women's Soccer Coach and Volunteer Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Virginia Intermont College during the 2006-07 season. He also worked as Women's Soccer Coach at Virginia High School during the 2007 season.

Gallucci was a four-year starter on the men's soccer team at VIC, which advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in 2003 and 2005. He received the NAIA National Champion of Character Award in 2005.

Gallucci holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health from Virginia Intermont College.

 
Juan de Dios Garcia Image
Juan de Dios Garcia
Assistant Coach
2nd Season

Juan de Dios Garcia  joined the athletics staff of The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College in August 2007 as Assistant Women's Soccer Coach and goalkeepers' coach.

Garcia, the pioneer, founder, coordinator, board member, referee and coach of all youth and adult Brownsville Soccer Leagues, has 47 years of soccer experience.
 
He is and has been a member of most the All-Star soccer teams in both Texas and Mexico. During the 1970s, Garcia was a Third Division Professional player in Tamaulipas, Mexico, a state champion, and a member of the V.M.C soccer team that won the Mexican National Championship.
 
He also coached the "Atletico Arsenal", a prospective Division Professional Team in Matamoros, Tamaulipas in 1978-79 and in 1980-81, played for The University of Texas-Pan American.
 
Garcia earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in Spanish and Sociology in 1982 from UTPA. Upon graduation, he began his position as head soccer coach at Brownsville Hanna High School.

Garcia continues to hold the position at Hanna High School along with other positions in professional organizations such as President of the Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches, where he was named Regional Director in 2005.