NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Nick Taljan has been named assistant coach of the Yale men's soccer team as announced by Kylie Stannard, the 5K Corral Head Coach.

"Nick is a rising star in college coaching, and I am thrilled to welcome him to Yale and the New Haven community," Stannard said. "He has several colleagues and mentors I know well that are some of the best people and coaches in the profession. Nick's skillsets are becoming harder to find in young coaches today in that he is very well balanced in the wide variety of responsibilities involved in college coaching. His time at Kenyon is an excellent transition having been part of national success, being mentored by one of the top young head coaches in the nation, and working with like-minded student-athletes that take their academics and sport very seriously."

Prior to Yale, Taljan served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Kenyon College from 2023-25. While at Kenyon, Taljan led training sessions, film analysis, and scout presentations. He also played a significant role in recruiting for one of the most successful Division III programs in the nation. Taljan helped lead the Owls to a 29-7-6 record, culminating in two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2024. In 2023, Taljan and the Kenyon coaches were awarded Staff of the Year by the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). 

Taljan worked for three seasons as the assistant coach and video coordinator for Division III Baldwin Wallace University. With the Yellow Jackets, Taljan assisted in recruiting student-athletes, developing training plans, scouting opponents, and creating game models to exploit opponents' weaknesses. In his final season, BWU posted an 11-6-2 record.

Taljan also has experience as an assistant coach and film analyst with the Cleveland Force Soccer Club, an organization working with youths through pre-professional players. He started coaching with Cleveland Force SC in 2018 and took on additional roles in 2022.

Before getting into coaching, Taljan was a member of the Bellarmine University men's soccer team before transferring to Cleveland State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 2017. At St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Taljan was part of a Wildcats team that won the national championship in 2011 and the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championship in 2011 and 2012.  

"I'm honored to join the men's soccer staff at Yale and am grateful to Coach Stannard for the opportunity. With a relentless work ethic, I'm committed to helping elevate the program to national prominence—reflecting the standard that defines Yale both on and off the field," Taljan said.