University of North Georgia Athletics

Anel Lilic is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the University of North Georgia men’s soccer team. 

In his first three seasons at the helm of the men’s soccer program, Lilic's has guided his teams to making noticeable strides forward. Since 2023, North Georgia has improved their conference win totals each year, culminating in the programs’ first Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship in 2025. He has also coached a program-record five PBC All-Conference players in each of the last three years while also mentoring the program’s first two PBC Freshman of the Year recipients in 2023 and 2024.

The 2025 season proved to be one of the most successful in program history for Lilic and the Nighthawks. North Georgia finished the season 10-5-5 overall, marking the fifth 10-plus win season in program history. UNG’s 8-2-2 record in conference play propelled the team to its first PBC Regular Season Title and a Runner-Up finish in the PBC Tournament for the first time since 2017.  

Lilic coached a decorated team in 2025 that included three PBC All-Conference First Team selections and two Second-Team selections. He also helped raise the bar with three of his players being named to the D2CCA All-Region Teams, and Vukašin Lukovic becoming the program’s first D2CCA All-American.  

A highlight 2025 campaign resulted in Lilic being named the PBC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. 
 
In 2024, Lilic and the Nighthawks finished with an 8-6-3 record in the regular season and a 6-3-1 mark in conference matches. The team finished in second place in the PBC for the second time in program history and first time since 2016. UNG went on to advance to the PBC Tournament Semifinals for the second year in a row and the first time in back-to-back seasons since 2008.  
 
Lilic mentored another quintet of all-conference selections in 2024, including PBC Freshman of the Year Jorge Sandoval.  
 
Sandoval and Aram Lara were also named to the United Soccer Coaches Southeast All-Region Team in 2024, marking the program’s first all-region winners since 2018. 
 
In 2023, Lilic took over as the interim head coach after serving as an assistant to Patrice Parris for the previous two seasons. North Georgia's nine wins in 2023 were the most in the previous six seasons for the UNG men's soccer program and marked the third winning season since 2011.  

Lilic led the team to a late-season four-match winning streak, marking the first time the Nighthawks were victorious in four straight matches since a program-record 10-match winning streak that dates back to the 2004 season. The streak was highlighted by a late 2-1 home win over No. 16 Clayton State. Under Lilic's direction, the Nighthawks finished unbeaten (7-0-1) in home matches at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park in 2023.  

UNG’s successful season in 2023 led to five all-conference selections and Aram Lara being named the program’s first PBC Freshman of the Year. Lilic’s interim tag was removed after the season, and he was promoted to full-time status prior to the start of the 2024 campaign. 

Prior to his time at UNG, Lilic worked with Atlanta United as a goalkeepers coach in the Regional Development School after a stint with Georgia Southern's women's soccer program. Prior to that, Lilic served as head coach at Flowery Branch High School, working with the girls' soccer program. 
 
In his two-year tenure at FBHS, the Lady Falcons were 41-4-2 and reached the state semifinal and state championship.   
 
Lilic also served as a head coach for several age groups on the boys' side at Gwinnett Soccer Academy (GSA) and is a goalkeeper coach with the Olympic Development Program (ODP). 
 
Collegiately, Lilic worked in Dahlonega as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant with the UNG men's soccer for six years beginning in 2013. 
 
Lilic moved to Georgia from Sarajevo, Bosnia. He played collegiate soccer at Emmanuel College where he earned All-Region honors. 
 
Updated: July 2026