Bio

Htut Zar has served as the men’s soccer head coach at Defiance for two seasons. Since 2024, he has served as the program’s 11th head coach and guided the team through its transition to the NAIA. Even before coming to Defiance, Zar holds a wealth of experience with over 10 years of coaching experience at the college level in Division I, Division III, and NAIA in addition to high school and club soccer.

Following a winless first season in 2024, the Yellow Jackets picked up three wins and one tie in Zar's second year at the helm. DC snapped its losing streak with a tie at Manchester on Sept. 6 and captured Zar's first head coaching victory two games later with a 7-0 triumph at Calumet on Sept. 12. DC went on to pick up the program's first two conference wins as WHAC members through the remainder of the season, including a 1-0 thriller in the season finale.

Htut Zar Head Coaching Record
2024 - 0-18
2025 - 3-14-1
Overall Record: 3-32-1

Defiance placed 11 student-athletes on the Academic All-Conference list during Zar's first season, giving DC double-digit honorees for the third straight season and upholding strong academic standards within the program. In his second season, the Jackets had 7 more Academic All-Conference honorees and had one player earn a spot on the WHAC's All-Newcomer Team.

Before joining the staff at Defiance, Zar coached at Mount Vernon Nazarene where he served as an assistant coach and the Cougars’ JV head coach for the last five seasons. The Cougars achieved four winning seasons since Zar joined the staff prior to the 2019 season in addition to five berths to the Crossroads League tournament.

His coaching career started as an assistant men’s soccer and head men’s tennis coach at NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris during the 2015-16 academic year. He then moved on to Division I Arkansas-Little Rock for the next three years to assist the Trojans’ women’s soccer program. While focusing on defensive coaching, Zar was also the team’s director of operations during two of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2016, Little Rock set a program record with a 12-8-1 ledger on the season.

Zar also holds coaching experience at the high school and club levels from his time in Mount Vernon. He coached the soccer team and was a physical education teacher at Mount Vernon High School in addition to coaching the Stings Soccer Club U-14/15 travel team for three years.

Htut is a native of Burma and earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Rangoon. Zar also earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and sport management from MVNU in 2013. Additionally, he holds a Master’s degree in coaching education/recreation and sport science from Ohio University, which he completed in 2016. Coach Zar is a candidate for the USSF "B" license and currently holds a USSF National "C" license from the United States Soccer Federation, as well as Goalkeeper Level I and II from the United Soccer Coaches. Other certifications include a USC Premier Diploma, Advanced National Diploma, and National Diploma.