Born in Belgrade Serbia, Ivan Ristic is starting his 7th year as the Head Coach of the Lady Eagles.
Coming into the 2025 season, Ristic holds a 111-14-9 record as the Head Coach of the Lady Eagles.
In his first year as coach (2019), Eagles won the KCAC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships with an unbeaten conference record. They made the NAIA National Tournament and advanced to the second round, finishing the season with a 19-4-0 record.
In 2020, they won the KCAC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships with an unbeaten record in conference play. They advanced to the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament, coming up only one game short of advancing to the Final 10 Side to Alabama. They finished with a 18-3-0 record. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year and OKWU Coaching Staff was named Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2021, Lady Eagles won both regular-season conference along with the tournament with an unbeaten record. They have reached the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament with the record of 20-2-1. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year.
2022 has been marked as the most successful year in the program’s history. OKWU have clinched the Regular Season along with the KCAC Conference Tournament with the unbeaten conference record. Lady Eagles also made a historic run into the Quarterfinal of the National Tournament. They finished the season with the record of 22-1-1 and being the best attack in the nation with the 146 goals. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year and OKWU Coaching Staff was named Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2023, Lady Eagles continued the unbeaten streak in the conference and they clinched the Regular Season Tittle along with the Conference Tournament. Lady Eagles came short in the Second Round of the National Tournament. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in the row and OKWU Coaching Staff was named Reginal Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight year.
In 2024, Lady Eagles won the Regular Season Conference and Reached out to the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament. Lady Eagles were ranked #1 in the Nation in total goals allowed (4). Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year.
Before his coaching career Ristic played soccer for fifteen years. During his four years that he played at OKWU, the Eagles made the NAIA National Tournament four times, won the regular-season conference championship three times, and won two conference tournaments. He was an NAIA All-American two times, Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Conference two times, and three times First Team All-Conference. Ristic was also OKWU’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 2015.
Ristic lives in Bartlesville, and he has Masters in Business and Masters in Strategic Leadership. Ristic holds USSF B Coaching License and he is working towards USSF A Coaching License.
“As a program, we strive to represent Christ in all our actions. Our team goal is to be Christ-centered and to demonstrate character and responsibility in our actions both on and off the field,” Ristic said. “We want to build a good foundation and become one of the top NAIA programs where students receive an outstanding education, be part of a winning culture, and constantly improve both individually and collectively.”
