SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Interim head coach Pinder Nijjar and the women's soccer program announced on Friday afternoon the return of Halle Bissin as the program's new assistant coach.
 
Bissin, a 2015 graduate of USF, returns for her second stint as an assistant coach for the women's soccer program after she previously served under Jim Millinder from 2018-2022.
 
"Not only is Halle a very close friend of mine, but she is an amazing coach and role model for our players to look up to," said Nijjar. "She had a fantastic playing career on the Hilltop and represented our USF values and badge to the highest level. I am so fortunate to have someone who I trust so much on our staff and along with Alexis Mata, we have assembled a coaching staff that cares very deeply about our players and their experience with us whilst representing the University of San Francisco."
 
As a student-athlete herself, Bissin played in 72 matches for the Dons, making 47 starts and logged 3,660 career minutes.  In 2013, she earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors after playing in all 20 contests making 19 starts, that year she played 80 or more minutes 15 times. In her senior campaign, she was a key member of the Dons defense that set a team record in goals against average (0.72) and tied the team record for shutouts in a season (10) in 2015. 
 
"I'm filled with gratitude to be back with the women's soccer team here at USF," said Bissin. "I'd like to thank Pinder for having me at the top of his mind when finding an assistant coach. Not only is Pinder a good friend of mine, but I absolutely believe in him as a coach. Working with him at USF from 2018-22 was a privilege and I learned so much…I look forward to the sense of collaboration he brings to a staff. USF has been an integral part of my life since 2011 and I feel humbled and honored to return to the Hilltop to help empower this team to take a hold of their potential both as individuals and as a group."
 
Following her career on the Hilltop, she played professionally in Europe for the Apollon Ladies F.C in Limassol, Cyprus.  She and her club competed in the 2016 UEFA Champions League campaign and advanced to the Round of 32. After her year abroad, she returned to the Bay Area working for a company called Kendo Brands while still playing for the San Francisco Nighthawks of the WPSL. 
 
In Bissin's first two years as an assistant under Millinder, San Francisco finished with a winning record as the Dons went 11-7-2 in 2018 followed by a 10-8-2 campaign in 2019.
 
Most recently, Bissin stepped away from coaching from 2022-2024 to handle family matters off the field and reassess her career. During this time, she was often working at the iconic San Francisco diner - Pork Store Cafe - or making wine (One Trick Pony Wines) across the bay at Richmond Wine Collective.
 
For updates and more information on the San Francisco women's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsWSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.