Pinder Nijjar appointed as interim head coach for University of San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – After serving as an assistant and associate head coach of the University of San Francisco women’s soccer program for the past eight years, Pinder Nijjar has been elevated to interim head coach following the retirement of Jim Millinder, Director of Athletics Larry Williams announced.

“We are delighted to elevate Pinder to interim head coach for women’s soccer,” said Williams. “He has most certainly earned the opportunity. Growing under the tutelage of Coach Millinder, he has demonstrated a strong tactical acumen, and importantly, a remarkable gift in building strong relationships. He is well prepared to lead our women’s soccer team to great successes on and off the pitch.”

Entering his ninth season on the Hilltop ahead of the 2024 campaign, Nijjar joined the women’s soccer program as a volunteer assistant in December 2015. Shortly after, he was promoted to the top assistant and recruiting coordinator by former head coach Jim Millinder in June 2018 and later climbed the ranks as he was tabbed associate head coach before the 2021 season. Millinder served as the USF head coach for 11 seasons spanning from 2013 until his retirement this past July (2024), completing his 24-year coaching career.

“I’d like to thank Larry Williams for the opportunity to lead this amazing group of people,” said Nijjar. “I’d also like to show my appreciation to Jim Millinder who has guided me through all of my years in San Francisco and more importantly giving me an opportunity back in 2016 to work at the collegiate level. We have an amazing group of players that I am excited to continue working with and our aim is to squeeze every ounce of our potential from this season. USF means a lot to me and my family and I feel very humbled to be given this leadership opportunity.”

During his tenure, Nijjar has specialized in working with forwards and midfielders. Under his watch this past season in 2023, San Francisco posted two significant victories over nationally ranked Santa Clara, earning a season sweep over the Broncos for the first time. The Dons dominated in the first meeting, earning a 3-0 win on September 21 at Negoesco Stadium before blanking the Broncos with a 1-0 shutout victory on the road on October 18.

The Dons concluded the 2023 season with three All-Conference honorees, highlighted by Marissa Vasquez earning WCC Midfielder of the Year. With Nijjar steering the ship, Vasquez finished her career on the Hilltop tied for eighth in program history in goals (20), 11th in points (45), and tied for fourth in shots attempted (159).

In 2019, the Dons had three players with seven or more goals on the year. Samantha Jehnings led the team with 11 goals, while Miciah Madison (nine) and Ashley Humphrey (seven) contributed to the team’s offensive success. Impressively, the Dons had two active players in the top 10 in goals scored for the first time since 1994. Notably, the trio finished their careers as three of the most successful goal scorers in program history as Jehnings (second all-time), Sonja Giraud (seventh) and Madison (10th) all ranked in the top ten at the end of their time on campus. Madison and Jehnings also became two of the most decorated players in program history, earning all-conference and all-region honors during Nijjar’s watch. Giraud went on to play in the German Bundesliga following her four-year career on the Hilltop.

Looking ahead, the Nijjar era officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on August 15 when San Francisco hosts perennial powerhouse Stanford in its 2024 season opener at Negoesco Stadium.