Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Ivan Ristic has served as the Head Coach of the Lady Eagles since August 2019. Entering the 2026 season, Ristic has a 132-16-11 overall record as head coach.
In his first season as head coach in 2019, Ristic led the Lady Eagles to both the KCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, finishing conference play unbeaten. The team advanced to the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament, concluding the season with a 19-4-0 record.
During the 2020 season, the Lady Eagles again went unbeaten in conference play while capturing both KCAC championships. They advanced to the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament, finishing 18-3-0 and falling just one match short of the NAIA Final Site. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year, and the OKWU coaching staff earned Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
In 2021, the Lady Eagles repeated as KCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions with another unbeaten conference season. The team reached the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament and finished 20-2-1. Ristic was again named KCAC Coach of the Year.
The 2022 season marked the most successful year in program history at the time. OKWU clinched both the KCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships with an unbeaten conference record and made a historic run to the NAIA National Quarterfinals. The Lady Eagles finished 22-1-1, leading the nation in scoring with 146 goals. Ristic earned KCAC Coach of the Year honors, while the OKWU coaching staff was named Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2023, the Lady Eagles extended their unbeaten conference streak, capturing both the KCAC Regular Season and Tournament titles. The team advanced to the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, and the OKWU coaching staff earned Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors for the second straight year.
During the 2024 campaign, the Lady Eagles won the KCAC Regular Season Championship and advanced to the Semifinals of the KCAC Conference Tournament. OKWU also reached the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament. Defensively, the Lady Eagles finished ranked No. 1 in the nation in goals allowed (4). Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year.
The 2025 season proved to be a historic year for the program. The Lady Eagles achieved their best postseason finish by advancing to the NAIA National Semifinals while winning both the KCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Defensively, the team ranked No. 1 in the nation, allowing only five goals in 25 matches. Ristic was named KCAC Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive season, and the OKWU coaching staff was named Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
Year-by-Year Record
- 2019: 19-4-0 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Second Round
- 2020: 18-3-0 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Second Round
- 2021: 20-2-1 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Second Round
- 2022: 22-1-1 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Quarterfinals
- 2023: 16-3-3 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Second Round
- 2024: 16-1-4 | KCAC Regular Season Champions | NAIA Second Round
- 2025: 21-2-2 | KCAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions | NAIA Semifinals
Prior to his coaching career, Ristic played soccer for fifteen years, including four seasons at OKWU. During his playing career with the Eagles, the team qualified for the NAIA National Tournament four times, won three regular-season conference championships, and captured two conference tournament titles. Individually, Ristic earned two NAIA All-American selections, Newcomer of the Year, two Defensive Player of the Conference awards, and three First Team All-Conference honors. He was also named OKWU Student-Athlete of the Year in 2015 and was inducted into the OKWU Hall of Fame in 2025.
Ristic resides in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He holds a Master’s degree in Business and a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership, as well as a USSF B Coaching License, and is currently working toward his USSF A Coaching License.
“As a program, we strive to represent Christ in all our actions,” Ristic said. “Our goal is to be Christ-centered and demonstrate character and responsibility both on and off the field. We aim to build a strong foundation and become one of the top NAIA programs, where student-athletes receive an outstanding education, are part of a winning culture, and continually improve both individually and collectively.”
