Men’s Soccer Hires Kian Yari as Assistant Coach
May 14, 2024 | Men's Soccer
SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State has hired former men's soccer player Kian Yari as an assistant coach for the Bears, head coach Michael Seabolt announced Tuesday morning. The standout midfielder will remain in Springfield after a historic five-year playing career.
"I am pleased to announce Kian as an assistant coach for Missouri State men's soccer," Seabolt said. "He has been very successful on the field the last five seasons as a key contributor to the program."
Yari (Manchester, England) played for the Bears from 2019 to 2023 and helped the team to three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships (2020-22) and four consecutive MVC regular season titles (2019-22). He has led the Bears to the NCAA Tournament each of the last five years, a feat only eight other teams have accomplished at the Division I level since 2019.
"I am super excited to start my coaching journey where it all began for me back as a freshman in 2019," Yari said. "I've always had a passion for the game, whether it was playing, watching or coaching. Springfield has felt like home for the past five years as a student-athlete, and I look forward to continuing my future here."
Yari hit the pitch running in his first season in 2019, making the MVC All-Freshman Team. That success only grew in the following years. He made the All-MVC first team three times from 2020 to 2022 and the second team in 2023. His most decorated season came in 2021 when he was named the MVC Midfielder of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches All-American after scoring a career-high eight assists across a personal high of 1,447 minutes played in one season.
In 2022, United Soccer Coaches once again recognized Yari on its All-Region first team.
An All-American in multiple ways, Yari's athletic accolades coincide with his academic ones. On top of making the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team four times, Yari was a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in 2021. He was also named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American in 2021 and 2022 and a four-time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
"Kian has excelled off the field and in the classroom," Seabolt said. "He has all the skills needed to be a top coach and the players and coaches look forward to working with him. It is tremendous to have former student-athletes that want to give back to their Bears as coaches."
Yari's presence on the team was essential to last year's 12-4-3 season that saw the Bears make the MVC Championship match and win its third-ever NCAA Tournament match in program history against Omaha last November. Yari's four assists last year were tied for the team-most, bringing his career total to 22, the third-most in MSU history. Yari remained with the team throughout Missouri State's spring exhibition season that concluded in April where he was an interim assistant coach down the stretch.
He joins Seabolt's coaching staff which includes Danny Frid, who was promoted to associate head coach in December, as well as goalkeeper coach Dominic Gilespie.
"Hopefully my success as a player here can transfer into my coaching career, and I look forward to winning many trophies starting in 2024," Yari said.
Yari was part of Missouri State's spring graduating class last week. He completed a Master's degree in Professional Studies this spring.
"I am pleased to announce Kian as an assistant coach for Missouri State men's soccer," Seabolt said. "He has been very successful on the field the last five seasons as a key contributor to the program."
Yari (Manchester, England) played for the Bears from 2019 to 2023 and helped the team to three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships (2020-22) and four consecutive MVC regular season titles (2019-22). He has led the Bears to the NCAA Tournament each of the last five years, a feat only eight other teams have accomplished at the Division I level since 2019.
"I am super excited to start my coaching journey where it all began for me back as a freshman in 2019," Yari said. "I've always had a passion for the game, whether it was playing, watching or coaching. Springfield has felt like home for the past five years as a student-athlete, and I look forward to continuing my future here."
Yari hit the pitch running in his first season in 2019, making the MVC All-Freshman Team. That success only grew in the following years. He made the All-MVC first team three times from 2020 to 2022 and the second team in 2023. His most decorated season came in 2021 when he was named the MVC Midfielder of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches All-American after scoring a career-high eight assists across a personal high of 1,447 minutes played in one season.
In 2022, United Soccer Coaches once again recognized Yari on its All-Region first team.
An All-American in multiple ways, Yari's athletic accolades coincide with his academic ones. On top of making the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team four times, Yari was a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in 2021. He was also named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American in 2021 and 2022 and a four-time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
"Kian has excelled off the field and in the classroom," Seabolt said. "He has all the skills needed to be a top coach and the players and coaches look forward to working with him. It is tremendous to have former student-athletes that want to give back to their Bears as coaches."
Yari's presence on the team was essential to last year's 12-4-3 season that saw the Bears make the MVC Championship match and win its third-ever NCAA Tournament match in program history against Omaha last November. Yari's four assists last year were tied for the team-most, bringing his career total to 22, the third-most in MSU history. Yari remained with the team throughout Missouri State's spring exhibition season that concluded in April where he was an interim assistant coach down the stretch.
He joins Seabolt's coaching staff which includes Danny Frid, who was promoted to associate head coach in December, as well as goalkeeper coach Dominic Gilespie.
"Hopefully my success as a player here can transfer into my coaching career, and I look forward to winning many trophies starting in 2024," Yari said.
Yari was part of Missouri State's spring graduating class last week. He completed a Master's degree in Professional Studies this spring.
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