HOUSTON, TX--- Brazosport College is ushering in a new era of athletics—and a familiar name in collegiate sports leadership will be at the center of it.
Nikola Barjaktarevic, currently serving as Assistant Athletic Director, has been named the new head Executive Athletics Director at Brazosport College, where he will help lead the relaunch of the institution's athletic programs beginning in Fall 2027.
After nearly five decades without intercollegiate athletics, Brazosport College is officially bringing sports back. The college will reinstate baseball and softball, with plans to compete at the NJCAA level in Region 14. The move positions the Gators to immediately step into one of the most competitive junior college regions in the country.
Since joining the St. Thomas athletics administration in 2019, Barjaktarevic has been instrumental in helping guide one of the most transformative periods in department history. As a member of the Athletics Leadership Team, he played a key role in UST's transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division III while helping develop the operational, compliance, staffing and governance structures necessary to support the department's continued growth.
During his tenure, St. Thomas Athletics expanded from approximately 100 student-athletes to more than 350 while adding nine varsity sports, including baseball and softball. The Celts also captured 16 regular-season and conference tournament championships, earned 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, produced NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship qualifiers in both 2025 and 2026, and recorded multiple national top-16 finishes, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance in men's basketball.
The 2025-26 academic year marked another milestone for the department as St. Thomas captured its first-ever SCAC President's Trophy, recognizing the top overall athletics program in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. UST Athletics was also honored twice over the last three years with the SCAC Change for the Better Award for its commitment to community engagement and service.
UST Director of Athletics Todd Smith praised Barjaktarevic's impact and leadership:
"Coach Barjaktarevic has been an integral part of our Celt Athletic Family. Our transition to the NCAA would not have been nearly as successful without Nik's leadership and contributions to our team," said UST Athletic Director Todd Smith. "While we will certainly miss him, we are excited for Nik and the opportunity ahead at Brazosport College as they join the Houston-area athletic community. They could not have chosen a better person to lead their Athletic Department. Nik's dedication, character, and commitment to student-athletes make him the ideal fit for this role. He will be greatly missed, but we are incredibly happy for him and his family as they begin this exciting new chapter."
A proven program builder, Barjaktarevic founded women's soccer programs at both the University of St. Thomas and the University of Texas at Brownsville, leading each program to conference championships and national tournament appearances. Across his collegiate coaching career, he amassed 151 victories while earning multiple conference and regional Coach of the Year honors.
Barjaktarevic's leadership philosophy centers on building athletics as an extension of an institution's mission, emphasizing student success, character development, meaningful campus partnerships and a first-class student-athlete experience.
The University of St. Thomas thanks Barjaktarevic for his years of dedicated service and leadership and wishes him continued success as he begins this exciting new chapter at Brazosport College.
