Utica City FC’s Jelovac Named New Cayuga Soccer Coach

A captain on the Utica City Football Club has been named the new head coach for Cayuga Community College Spartans Men's Soccer. 

Bo Jelovac, 34, a veteran forward who has played professionally in Europe and spent almost a decade in the Major Arena Soccer League, is taking over as the new head coach for the Spartans. Along with competing professionally, Jelovac is an experienced coach who also played Division I soccer at SUNY Albany, where he graduated in 2011. 

Cayuga Athletic Director Pete Liddell said he was excited to announce that Jelovac would lead the Spartans, pointing out he has extensive professional experience and has also been a leader on several teams. 

"Bo has a proven record as a professional player, coach and leader everywhere he's competed. He knows that focusing on technique and building a culture of commitment is an essential part of helping student-athletes succeed," said Liddell. "We're excited to see him get started and to help our student-athletes grow in the years ahead." 

Jelovac said he's excited to start building the Spartans' roster, and believes that "hard work and dedication are everything." 

"I will give 100 percent of myself to the program and our student-athletes. I do something the right way or I don't do it, and I expect the same approach from our student-athletes," he said. "We will be focused, whether it's in practice or during a match, on doing things the right way and trying to get better each day." 

Jelovac said the Spartans will focus on building strong technique but will also prioritize an attacking mindset. Focusing on technique will help student-athletes at Cayuga and as they continue their soccer careers in the future. 

"If we develop technique — which I think is one of my strongest areas as a coach, and something I've focused on for years — the team results and individual results will follow," he said. "Everything builds off technique and attention to detail." 

Jelovac has received multiple awards for his soccer career. He was twice named Utica City FC's Player with the Most Heart, was named the Unsung Hero for the Syracuse Silver Knights and was named to the America East All-Conference Men's Soccer Second Team. He was also named to the National Premier Soccer League Team of the Year and the National Premier Development League All-Star Team. 

Along with competing with Utica City FC, Jelovac operates his own skills development company and is the head coach of the Syracuse Development Academy.  

In their two most recent complete seasons, the Spartans have advanced deep into the postseason. In 2018, the team won the Region IIIB Championship and advanced to the NJCAA Division III Semifinals, finishing with a 14-3-1 record. In 2019, the team finished 12-5 and advanced to the Region IIIA Championship, losing to Herkimer in overtime. 

The Spartans' 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team battled through a shortened Spring 2021 season.