Oz Bakirdan Named IWU’s Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Comes to IWU after 22-year run at ICC

3/4/2022 11:30:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University Director of Athletics Mike Wagner announced the hiring of Oz Bakirdan as IWU's sixth Head Women's Soccer Coach Thursday, March 3. No stranger to central Illinois, Bakirdan joins the Titans after an accomplished coaching career at Illinois Central College.

"I am thrilled to announce the addition of Oz Bakirdan to our Titan family," Wagner exclaimed. "Oz knows first-hand the emphasis we place on the total student-athlete experience having to kids currently attending IWU, and will be a great leader for our women's soccer program. He achieved incredible success at ICC, and we look forward to him building on the tradition of success at Illinois Wesleyan."

"I am humbled and honored to come to IWU and join the Titan family as the new women's head soccer coach," Bakirdan said. "The program has had excellent previous coaches and I look forward to honoring the successful tradition and building on it. I want to thank Mike Wagner and the rest of the administration for believing in me to lead the women's team to success. I am eager to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the field who will make the University and community proud."

"I want to thank my assistant coaches, players, athletic department and administrators at Illinois Central College for 22 unforgettable years as the head men's soccer coach. Without all of them, I would not be where I am today. We accomplished great things and I will always cherish my time as a Cougar."

Bakirdan took over ICC's club program in 1998 before turning it into a NJCAA Division I power. A 10-time NJCAA Region 24 Coach of the year, Bakirdan led his men's teams to the national tournament eight times. ICC won 10 Midwest Athletic Conference Championships, including in 2021, under his leadership, while also claiming the Region 24 title 12 times. Additionally, he was named the Central District Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2019.

Throughout his time at ICC, the Cougars were a staple in the NJCAA Division I national rankings. His squads were ranked consistently over his past seven seasons at the helm, reaching as high as third in the nation in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2019.

Bakirdan led ICC's women's team during the 2019 season, turning around a program that had struggled previously. He guided the team to its first winning record in six years, which included a MWAC Championship.

In addition to leading ICC, Bakirdan has worked in the local club circuit since 2012. He served as President of the Morton Blaze Soccer Club from 2012 to 2015, before moving into a Director of Coaching role with Morton Premier Soccer Club from 2016 to 2020. Most recently, he has served as the Director of Coaching for the Morton United Football Club. There, he led his 2009 girls squad to No. 1 in the state.

Bakirdan graduated with a degree in business administration from Bradley University in 1998.

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