Women's Soccer 7/2/2024 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Amel Muhamedagic Takes Helm, Announces Staff

Central Oklahoma Soccer Has First Coaching Change In 26-Year History

EDMOND – For the first time in 26 years of its existence, the Central Oklahoma soccer program has changes to its coaching staff as longtime assistant Amel Muhamedagic takes the reigns of the highly successful, championship contending squad.

Following the retirement of Mike Cook, who started the program in 1998 and is the only head coach in 26 years, Muhamedagic takes over the program in 2024. He announced Tuesday his staff for the new year.

Jovan Petrovic comes to UCO into the position of assistant soccer coach, Bryan Byars will join the program as a volunteer assistant working with the goalkeepers, and former player and four-year standout Linsey Gordon will serve as a graduate assistant.

"We are excited to start this new chapter," Muhamedagic said. "We are so grateful for coach Cook and everything he did for this program – and everything he's done for me as his assistant. The new coaches are going to fit right in here at UCO and we are really looking forward to getting started next month."

Central Oklahoma opens Fall camp August 14 and will train for three weeks in the preseason, competing in three scheduled scrimmages before officially opening the new year. UCO's first competition is scheduled for Sept. 5 at Southwestern Oklahoma State. Following another road game at Midwestern State on Sept. 8, Central will make its home debut Sept. 12 against Angelo State.

Muhamedagic has spent the last 17 years on the UCO coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach, and for the last three years, associate head coach. The Bronchos have won 211 matches during that time and have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 10 of those seasons.

Petrovic comes to UCO from Tulsa, where he has spent the last two years as co-Technical Director and coach at the Tulsa Soccer Club. Petrovic spent one season prior to that coaching at Booker T. Washington High School (2021). He was an assistant coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville, Oklahoma from 2018-20.

Petrovic played for OKWU and was an NAIA All-American during his college career. He received his bachelor's degree in general business in 2018 and his master's degree in marketing in 2020, both from Oklahoma Wesleyan.

Byars comes to UCO to help work with goalkeepers. A former keeper himself, who played for the Oklahoma City Energy FC squad during its time in the United Soccer League, Byars will work with Central's last line of defense this fall. He has previously worked with MIAA rival Rogers State as well as locally with OEFC.

Byars played high school soccer at Putnam City North before beginning his collegiate career at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas. After sitting out a redshirt season, Byars transferred to Science & Arts in Chickasha and is still today one of the best goalkeepers in school history there. Byars's 0.65 goals against average ranks second all-time and his 229 career saves are third all-time. He owns the school record for career wins (64) and career shutouts (46).

Gordon spent the last four years with the Bronchos. After her senior season at Sapulpa High School was canceled due to the pandemic, she came to UCO where her freshman season was also canceled. However, she played a key role in UCO taking the MIAA title during an organized yet unofficial Spring season in 2021.

Gordon played and started in all 21 official games during the 2021 season, helping UCO reach the NCAA Tournament. She helped the Bronchos get back there again in 2022, playing in 17 of 21 games. She played and started all 19 games last season as UCO reached the MIAA Soccer Championship Quarterfinals.

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