Sara Halilhodzic was announced as the newest Missouri State women’s soccer assistant coach on January 11, 2023.
In 2025, Halilhodzic helped guide Missouri State through its first season competing in Conference USA, assisting the Bears to a berth in the CUSA Tournament championship match in the program’s inaugural year in the league. Missouri State finished 7-9-4 overall and advanced to the title match after earning a 2-0 shutout victory over No. 1 seed Western Kentucky in the quarterfinals. The Bears also recorded a 1-1 result against Big Ten opponent Nebraska during the nonconference slate. Halilhodzic played a key role in the development of Missouri State’s goalkeepers throughout the season. The Bears’ primary goalkeeper started all 20 matches, recording 70 saves, five shutouts and a .714 save percentage with a 1.49 goals-against average. She earned Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Sept. 23 following a shutout win over the top team in the conference and was later named to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team.
Halilhodzic (hal-lil-HO-jitch) helped lead the Bears to the program's first-ever regular season conference championship in 2024, just her second season with the program. The Bears went on to record a 13-5-3 record with a MVC mark of 9-0-1 and a Valley tournament championship as well. The Missouri State coaching staff was named MVC women's soccer Coaching Staff of the Year and swept the player awards.
In her first season with the Bears, Halilhodzic assisted MoState to a 12-2-5 record. With 13 shutouts, the Bears' goalkeepers set a new program record for most shutouts in a season. Eight of those shutouts were consecutive to set another new program record. Halilhodzic helped the Bears to an undefeated conference season that saw two Missouri Valley Conference Players of the Year and nine Bears named to All-MVC teams.
Halilhodzic joined the MSU staff after five seasons as a goalkeeper at Columbus State. In her last season for the Cougars, she allowed just 10 goals with a 0.88 goals-against average. She also posted 45 saves, notching a save percentage of 0.818 and helping CSU secure the regular season Peach Belt Conference championship and reach the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament semifinals.
Halilhodzic brings coach experience to the Bears as well, co-owning Forge Goalkeeping Academy since 2019. She also has coached at CSU youth soccer camps since 2018, instructing kids aged 4-16.
At Northside High in Columbus, Ga., Halilhodzic served as a goalkeeper coach for the 2022 spring season, helping produce an all-region nominee. She also was a goalkeeper coach during the fall 2019 and 2022 seasons, developing goalkeepers for Columbus Youth Soccer Association teams from u10 to u14 age groups.
Halilhodzic's grassroots level is in progress for her U.S. Soccer coaching license.
"The new year is starting off strong with the addition of Sara to our Bears coaching staff," head coach Kirk Nelson said. "Along with quality coaching, she will be a great role model and guide for our student-athletes with her experience in the final four and as an All-American. She knows what it takes to compete and perform at a high level. Excited to get her here this spring and get rolling."
