Photo by: Christina Leung
Pinder Nijjar Steps Down as Head Women's Soccer Coach
5/2/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Interim Director of Athletics Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins announced today that Pinder Nijjar has stepped down from his position as head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of San Francisco (USF).
Nijjar has accepted a new position as an assistant coach at Stanford University. With the departure of Nijjar, Alexis Mata has been named interim head coach.
"I have deeply enjoyed serving the University of San Francisco in multiple roles, from assistant coach to head coach," said Nijjar. "The dedication and commitment of this current team and our distinguished alumni are what have made my time on the Hilltop so rewarding. I have some amazing memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life and even though I am saddened to depart this program, I know that USF women's soccer is destined for great achievements and I will always be cheering and supporting the Dons."
Nijjar spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Dons, which included two WCC All-Freshman team selections (Tyra Bengtsson-Stenseth and Alicia Osegueda/2025) and one All-WCC Second Team selection (Lindsey Chau/2025). Academically, Gabby Rizzo (2024) and Natalie Drotzmann (2025) were selected to the WCC Women's Soccer All-Academic Team. Nijjar's most notable victory came in a 2-0 shutout over No. 18 Texas Tech on Aug. 24, 2025.
"On behalf of Dons Athletics and the University of San Francisco, we want to thank Pinder for his exemplary service and dedication to the women's soccer program for the last eleven years," said Shrieve-Hawkins. "We are grateful for his leadership and passion in building a promising cohort of competitive student-athletes as we move into the fall 2026 season. We wish Pinder and his family the very best always."
Nijjar was appointed as interim head coach by former Director of Athletics Larry Williams on Aug. 1, 2024 after Jim Millinder retired. The interim tag was then removed by Williams on Sept. 17, 2024 prior to the start of the 2024 season. He originally came to the Hilltop as a volunteer assistant in December 2015, and was promoted to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator by Millinder in June 2018. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Nijjar was promoted to associate head coach.
A national search for Nijjar's successor will begin immediately.
For updates and more information on the USF women's soccer program, be sure to follow the Dons at @USFDonsWSoccer on X, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram, and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.
Nijjar has accepted a new position as an assistant coach at Stanford University. With the departure of Nijjar, Alexis Mata has been named interim head coach.
"I have deeply enjoyed serving the University of San Francisco in multiple roles, from assistant coach to head coach," said Nijjar. "The dedication and commitment of this current team and our distinguished alumni are what have made my time on the Hilltop so rewarding. I have some amazing memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life and even though I am saddened to depart this program, I know that USF women's soccer is destined for great achievements and I will always be cheering and supporting the Dons."
Nijjar spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Dons, which included two WCC All-Freshman team selections (Tyra Bengtsson-Stenseth and Alicia Osegueda/2025) and one All-WCC Second Team selection (Lindsey Chau/2025). Academically, Gabby Rizzo (2024) and Natalie Drotzmann (2025) were selected to the WCC Women's Soccer All-Academic Team. Nijjar's most notable victory came in a 2-0 shutout over No. 18 Texas Tech on Aug. 24, 2025.
"On behalf of Dons Athletics and the University of San Francisco, we want to thank Pinder for his exemplary service and dedication to the women's soccer program for the last eleven years," said Shrieve-Hawkins. "We are grateful for his leadership and passion in building a promising cohort of competitive student-athletes as we move into the fall 2026 season. We wish Pinder and his family the very best always."
Nijjar was appointed as interim head coach by former Director of Athletics Larry Williams on Aug. 1, 2024 after Jim Millinder retired. The interim tag was then removed by Williams on Sept. 17, 2024 prior to the start of the 2024 season. He originally came to the Hilltop as a volunteer assistant in December 2015, and was promoted to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator by Millinder in June 2018. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Nijjar was promoted to associate head coach.
A national search for Nijjar's successor will begin immediately.
For updates and more information on the USF women's soccer program, be sure to follow the Dons at @USFDonsWSoccer on X, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram, and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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