All Reviews at Illinois Wesleyan University

Women's Soccer

Oz Bakirdan

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII • College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | CCIW

The Best College Coach We Interacted With In The Entire Recruiting Process

Date: November 14, 2025

By Parent

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

"As a parent, I was 100% confident my daughter would have a Coach that could mentor her through life and provide guidance beyond the field. Unlike many coaches, he's not doing this to advance his career or for the money, he's doing it because he love coaching. Of all the coaches and we spoke with throughout the recruiting process, Oz was by far the best overall person and mentor. The only reason our daughter is not going to IWU, is because the school she chose is top 4 in the country for her degree, and a 10 minute train ride from internships and part time jobs. Telling Oz she wasn't coming to IWU was hard on my daughter and me as a parent. I would highly recommend IWU and Coach Oz if you're looking for a school and a soccer program that's develops the entire person. We have every intention of staying in contact with Oz as he builds IWU's women's soccer program. If anyone wants more detail and my daughters' major, happy to share that offline. "

0

Men's Golf

Jim Ott

Men's Golf Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Truly The Best Of The Best

Date: May 16, 2024

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Honest Creates A Great Team Culture Easy To Get Along With Organized Players Coach

"Players and parents love and respect him. Would do anything for others. Great developer of talent. Caring and fun to be around. Makes young men better adults. "

0

Men's Soccer

Kyle Schauls

Men's Soccer Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Buy Into Coach And The Program, Be On A Winning Team.

Date: March 4, 2024

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Direct Cares About Academics Creates A Great Team Culture Dedicated To Players

"Coach Schauls has high expectations of players on and off the field. Play for Coach Schauls if you're ready to rise to the challenge. He cares less about game outcomes then he does about giving your best effort, putting your team first over playing time, taking ownership of your own development, and being a good human. His coaching style at IWU works to win in the CCIW. The years that players have been "all in" on the playing style, the Titans have been successful. In 2023, with a group of committed players who were "bought in" to the program, Coach Schauls led the Titans to their first CCIW Championship and trip to the NCAA tournament in program history. "

0

Men's Golf

Jim Ott

Men's Golf Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

The Goat, Caring Yet Crazy At The Same Time. Beloved

Date: October 9, 2023

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Cool Creates A Great Team Culture Great Leader Players Coach Responsive

"Awesome, awesome, awesome!"

1

Men's Golf

Jim Ott

Men's Golf Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Best Division Iii Coach In The Country!

Date: February 16, 2023

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Honest Motivational Cares About Academics Creates A Great Team Culture Dedicated To Players

"I shared an office with Jim for 15 years at Illinois Wesleyan University and saw first hand how he fostered a great team year in and year out."

2

Athletic Staff

Kayla Pisauro

Athletic Training Graduate Assistant

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Kayla Is Great Like Tony The Tiger!

Date: November 18, 2022

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Direct Knowledgeable Easy To Get Along With Fitness Is Important Positive Person

"She helped with my back issues and gave me ice. "

0

Athletic Staff

Bill Kauth

Director of Sports Performance & Athletic Training (fb, Base)

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Great Athletic Trainer

Date: July 31, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Knowledgeable Easy To Get Along With Great Communicator Respectful To Players

"I only know Doc as the athletic trainer and he is great. Very Knowledgeable and know what’s he is talking about. Great guy and is very helpful "

0

Men's Soccer

Matthew Kemp

Men's Soccer Graduate Assistant Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Goat

Date: July 25, 2022

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Cool Believes In You Great Communicator Passionate About Coaching Players Coach

"Hes a great guy. Super understanding and actually a good coach"

0

Women's Basketball

Brian Ehresman

Women's Basketball Assistant Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Great Assistant Coach

Date: July 24, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Motivational Believes In You Creates A Great Team Culture Knows The Game Positive Person

"Coach Brian is an awesome assistant coach and always keeps things positive. "

0

Men's Golf

Jim Ott

Men's Golf Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

A Coach With One Of The Biggest Tool Boxes Out There

Date: July 24, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Believes In You Creates A Great Team Culture Dedicated To Players Knows The Game Responsive

"Awesome coach. Perfect balance of jumping in to offer advice and know when to let you do your thing. Knows and will let you know what you need to do to reach your potential. Has your best interest on his mind always. Looks out for his players. Knows the game, knows how to win. "

3

Women's Soccer

Oz Bakirdan

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII • College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | CCIW

Open And Terrific Coach

Date: July 22, 2022

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Direct Honest Knowledgeable Knows The Game

"Great coach that is very approachable and has a great knowledge of the game very easy to want to play for "

0

Athletic Staff

Candy Anderson

Athletics Healthcare Administrator & Rehab Coordinator

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Caring That Goes Deeper Than Kindness

Date: July 20, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Honest Intense Knowledgeable Believes In You

"Candy is an intense trainer- there’s no doubt about that. She’s honest, but that is one of her best qualities. She cares about you and your health more than you know. She goes the extra mile every day to ensure all IWU athletes are cared for. I remember many personal conversations where she would take time out of her day to make sure I was doing okay mentally, and she was there in times when I needed it most. Candy is phenomenal, and anyone who works with her is lucky. If you think she is mean or nagging you to get training done, you are missing the bigger picture. She cares about her players so much that she’s honest and upfront with them to help them recover as quickly as they can. I am fortunate to have worked with Candy. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Ryan Raycraft

Women's Volleyball Assistant Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

A Coach Who Truly Loves The Game, And Wants You To Too.

Date: July 20, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Cool Knowledgeable Motivational Believes In You Dedicated To Players

"Ryan is incredible. His passion for volleyball is easily shown to any player he works with. For our iwu team, he volunteered to show up to every single practice and help us get better. His dedication to the game is something that makes his coaching so special. I was lucky enough to be coached by him and I know his career is going to be so successful. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Kim Nelson Brown

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Growth In The Classroom, On The Court, And As A Person.

Date: July 20, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Creates A Great Team Culture Develops Team Beyond The Field Passionate About Coaching

"Kim is a coach who cares about your success on the court and goes above and beyond to help you grow as a person throughout your time on her team. From freshman year to senior year, I became a woman who found a new sense of confidence, a new family among my teammates, and so much more. Kim helped me more than words can describe. Her program is tough, but it’s worth the growing pains 200%. I would recommend joining IWUVB to any future female athlete who wants to push themselves to reach their full potential! "

0

Men's Soccer

Matthew Kemp

Men's Soccer Graduate Assistant Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Coach Kemp Is A Great Coach That Is Caring About His Players On And Off The Field.

Date: July 18, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Knowledgeable Believes In You Dedicated To Players Knows The Game Passionate About Coaching

"He’s a very knowledgeable coach and seems to care heavily about his players on and off the field. He’s committed to coaching his players and making us better people. All around great guy. "

0

Men's Lacrosse

Zach Iannucci

Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Yeah

Date: July 17, 2022

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Develops Team Beyond The Field Disorganized Passionate About Coaching

"It was a great experience 10/10 would maybe recommend but it’s chill in all"

0

Women's Softball

Tiffany Prager

Women's Softball Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Cares About You As A Person Far Beyond Just A Player

Date: July 13, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cares About Academics Develops Team Beyond The Field Players Coach Positive Person

"In my experience as a player Coach Tiffany cares about each individual immensely. She wants her players to prioritize being students and good people before being the best they can on the field. Most coaches are fake nice before you play for them but she is one of the few that is super genuine and caring all the time."

0

Women's Softball

Tiffany Prager

Women's Softball Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Tiffany Prager

Date: July 13, 2022

By Other

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Believes In You Creates A Great Team Culture Dedicated To Players Develops Team Beyond The Field Passionate About Coaching

"Coach Tiffany cares so much about her players and works so hard to make our program the best it can be! "

0

Women's Volleyball

Kim Nelson Brown

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Date: August 23, 2017

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"Supportive, challenging, motivating and a great coach. We still keep in touch, and I think the world of her!"

0

Women's Volleyball

Kim Nelson Brown

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Date: April 16, 2017

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"Supportive, challenging, motivating and a great coach. We still keep in touch, and I think the world of her!"

0

Women's Campus Visit

Volleyball

Illinois Wesleyan University

NCAA DIII

Great Culture And Atmosphere

Date: July 20, 2022

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Team Dynamic

Host Interaction

Coaching Staff Interaction

Coach Player Interaction

Got To Know Team

5.0

Tags

Inclusive Coaching Staff Inclusive Teammates Tight Knit Teammates Fun Locker Room Dynamic Safe Campus

"When I visited, I could not find one thing wrong with IWU. You can tell the girls on the team are there because they WANT to be there, and the coaching staff wants YOU to be there. Great team, so fortunate to visit "

0

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