Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics
1312 Park Street Bloomington, IL 61702

Division 3 Illinois Midwest

Private Small Developing team

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Oz Bakirdan

The 2023 season marks the second at the helm of the Titans for Oz Bakirdan, who was hired as IWU's sixth head coach in March of 2022.

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.