Women’s Soccer Shuffles Coaching Staff Following Bimbi Departure 

The Loyola women’s soccer team underwent multiple coaching personnel changes in the wake of the surprise departure of longtime head coach Barry Bimbi.

 Assistant coach Brendan Roth left the program to take an assistant job at DePaul University, prompting Loyola Athletics to hire Aleksandar Saric, who was previously the men’s soccer goalkeeper coach, as an assistant coach. 

The changes came after assistant coach Angela Staveskie stepped into the interim head coach role following Bimbi’s firing. 

Bimbi declined The Phoenix’s request for comment. 

DePaul University’s women’s soccer program announced Roth as their new assistant coach July 29. Loyola Athletics declined to comment on his departure. 

“I am very excited to join the DePaul Athletics family,” Roth said in a statement to DePaul Athletics. “I am eager to start working with the team and look forward to competing in the Big East Conference.” 

Two days after Roth’s departure, Staveskie announced Saric was stepping in as the new assistant coach for the women’s team July 31. 

“It’s been a privilege for me to coach on the men’s staff last year, and now, I’m even happier to be a full time assistant on the women’s side,” Saric said in a statement. 

Saric led the men’s team to their best goals allowed per game in program history during the 2023 season. Before coming to Loyola, he served as an assistant coach for Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire from 2016-2020 and has 18 years of professional playing experience. 

Roth will make his return to Hoyne Field Aug. 27 when the Blue Demons face the Ramblers in an early season rivalry matchup.