Omar Jarun
(DAHLONEGA) – The University of North Georgia men’s soccer program has added Omar Jarun as a new assistant coach the team announced Friday. Jarun joins head coach Anel Lilic‘s staff with an abundance of playing and coaching experience.
“We are thrilled to add Omar Jarun to our UNG men’s soccer staff. Omar is an exceptional coach whose accomplishments over the course of his career speak for themselves,” said Lilic.
“His work ethic and desire to win align with the goals of our program. Omar’s coaching career, both at the youth and professional level in the MLS will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will have an immediate impact on the growth of our program. His vast experience will not only improve our player development, but will elevate our recruiting reach to new levels.”
Most recently Jarun was an assistant coach with Huntsville City Football Club in Huntsville, Ala. An affiliate of Nashville Soccer Club’s Major League of Soccer team, Huntsville City FC played in the MLS Next Pro collection.
With Huntsville, Jarun worked to help build the team’s roster, assist with team strategy and philosophy, support training exercises and scout both opponents and prospective players.
Jarun spent the 2023 season with the club and while he was there the team finished with a 9-12-7 record.
Before Huntsville, Jarun spent time with Atlanta United 2 also in the MLS Next Pro. Jarun was with Atlanta United for two years from 2021 to 2023 and helped build the club’s roster, provide tactical and strategic analysis of opponents and provide player instruction.
Jarun is a former head coach after guiding Peachtree City MOBA in the United Soccer League 2 for the 2018 season. He also spent time as a head coach in Atlanta United’s Academy program from 2018 to 2021 leading the U13, U15 and U16 teams.
As a professional player, Jarun’s career spans 186 games over nine years. He played with 10 different teams which included being a Palestinian National Team member for seven years.
Jarun, originally born in Kuwait, lived in Palestine as a child after his family moved there. In 1991, during the beginning of the first Gulf War, Jarun and his family fled the country to the United States. Years later, he represented his home team on July 3, 2011 while suiting up for the Palestinian National Team in a World Cup qualifying match. It was the first World Cup match to ever take place on Palestinian soil. Jarun was also the first Palestinian to ever play in Belgium when he signed with Sporting Charleroi of the Jupiler Pro League in 2012.
In the states, Jarun spent a season in the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club. There he played in 24 games during the 2008 season. His pro career began with the since disbanded Atlanta Silverbacks in the United Soccer League in 2006. Jarun played 45 games in three years with the team before heading to Vancouver. In 2007 the Silverbacks were the USL Runner Up and in 2008 he helped the club to a USL Championship.
