Alex Balog is in his eighth year with the MSUB men’s soccer program and sixth year as head coach in 2018-19. His overall record as head coach stands at 35-41-15 (.467) in five full seasons.
Balog was named the 2017 GNAC co-Coach of the Year after leading the team to wins over the top-three schools in the league and finishing in fourth place at 6-6 in conference play.
MSUB had its best season in Balog’s tenure in the fall of 2016, going 9-6-3 overall and 5-4-3 within the Great Northwest Athletic Conference to finish in fourth place. The Yellowjackets ranked second in goals scored with 40, and third in shutouts with six.
In his first season at MSUB, Julien Dragomir led the conference in goals and was picked as the GNAC Newcomer of the Year. Overall, Balog coached eight players to all-conference honors in 2016.
Leading MSUB to its first winning season since 2012 in 2015, the Yellowjackets took fourth place in the GNAC with an overall record 8-6-4 and a mark of 6-5-3 in league play. Sophomore Ricardo Palomino was a first-team all-region forward after earning GNAC Newcomer of the Year honors by leading the entire NCAA Division II west region with 16 goals under Balog’s guidance.
In 2014, Balog led the Yellowjackets to a 6-9-3 finish, including a mark of 6-7-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Under his guidance, MSUB sophomore Rhys Lambert was a second-team all-conference selection.
In 2013, Balog’s Yellowjackets received the Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
In 2012, Balog assisted on a Yellowjacket team that went 11-5-2 overall and notched a fourth place GNAC finish.
Prior to his time at MSUB, Balog was at NAIA soccer powerhouse Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) in Montgomery, Ala., where he was an assistant coach to Wulf Koch for two seasons (2009-10).
While in Alabama, Balog also coached for the Olympic Development Program and was the Director of Goalkeeping for the FC Torjager club based in Montgomery. He was also a head coach at Lamp High School where his team went 17-3, and was involved in numerous camps throughout the country.
Prior to his time at AUM, Balog played and coached at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn. He played two seasons for the Buccaneers and then worked with the women's program for one season as the goalkeeper coach.
Balog has played soccer in Belgium, Hungary, Greece, England, and the U.S.
In the summers of 2012 and 2013, Balog was an assistant coach for the Colorado Rapids Women. The W-League team finished both seasons ranked 4th in their conference and the Super 20’s won the National Championship in 2012.
Being part of the local community is also important for Balog. He is active with the Billings United Soccer Club in numerous capacities. In 2012 he helped coach the U-16 Boys to a Montana state championship.
He holds a BA in social sciences from HIRL in Belgium and has completed two master's degrees. He holds a Master of Education from Christian Brothers University and a Master of International Relations from Auburn University Montgomery.
Balog holds several USC and USSF coaching licenses, including the USC Premier Diploma, USC Director of Coaching Diploma, and USC Level III Goalkeeping Diploma.
