OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University soccer team has announced the addition of Alex Taiar to the staff for 2019, as he will become the first Graduate Assistant coach on the MACU soccer staff. Taiar comes to MACU after a successful career in the Sooner Athletic Conference, and he also spent some time on the field for a pair of semi-professional clubs in the OKC area.

"We are extremely excited to announce the hiring of Alex Taiar as our new Graduate Assistant," remarked co-head coach Evan Dresel. "We spent many years dealing with Alex when he played as a left back at OCU, but now we get a chance to have him on staff here at MACU. Alex is a great fit for our culture here at MACU and in the Soccer teams. He will bring a great attitude and soccer knowledge to the team, and it won't hurt to have a little youthfulness in the coaching staff! We look forward to having Alex on this next season."

Taiar was a four-year letter winner at Oklahoma City University, where he played as a defender and wing. He earned 71 caps for the Stars, and he started 70 matches in his four years, missing his only start of his career as a sophomore in 2015. He accumulated 25 goals and 15 assists in his OCU career, paced by a junior campaign that saw him post 10 goals and three assists for a career-best 23-point season. He tallied seven game winning goals for OCU, and he was 5-for-5 from the penalty spot as a Star.

After his collegiate career, Taiar joined OKC 1889 FC in April of 2018. While with OKC 1889, he helped the club to a 3-3-2 mark during the 2018 season, and he connected with two MACU assistant coaches - Adam Kay and Dustin Hooker. Through that connection, he was brought into contact with Dresel and co-head coach Zach Bice, and he joins the staff as the Evangels look to begin their Sooner Athletic Conference title defense in 2019.

The Evangels are coming off a season in which they won the SAC Tournament title, and made their first ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship, advancing to the round of 16 before being eliminated by the eventual National Champions from Central Methodist University. The Evangels finished the season ranked 17th in the NAIA Top-25 coaches' poll after equalling a program record with 13 victories in 2018.