CANYON. Texas – West Texas A&M Vice President of Athletics Doug Lipinski announced on Thursday morning that Bulut "Turk" Ozturk has been named the third head coach in the history of the Lady Buff Soccer program.
"I am excited to have Coach Ozturk lead our Lady Buff soccer program. He is a competitor who excels in player development and has experience building championship programs. Turk is a leader focused on creating a great student-athlete experience while performing well on the pitch" said Lipinski.
Ozturk brings an impressive nine-season track record of collegiate coaching experience to WT. Ozturk was most recently on the coaching staff at Iowa State University for the 2024 season as the Soccer Development Coordinator. In this role, he was involved in all aspects of assisting a power four program that competes in the Big XII conference. Some of coach Turk's major duties included: Game Day coaching, video analysis for team members, scouting reports, recruiting, travel coordination and leading training sessions for the team.
"I am deeply grateful and honored to accept the position as Head Women's Soccer Coach at West Texas A&M University. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the search committee for their trust and support" said Ozturk "A special thank you to Dr. Wendler for sharing his inspiring vision for the future of WTAMU and his belief in the Women's Soccer Program. I am also profoundly thankful to Doug Lipinski, whose leadership and championship mentality align perfectly with my aspirations for the program."
Before Iowa State, Ozturk served as the Head Coach at Michigan Tech University for four seasons. During his tenure, he led the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly a decade in 2023. Under his guidance, Michigan Tech achieved remarkable success with 17 players earning GLIAC All-Conference Awards, one All-American, over 60 players named to the All-Academic Excellence Team, and eight to the All-Academic Team. His teams consistently maintained a strong academic record, boasting a 3.6-3.75 team GPA and a perfect graduation rate for four-year players.
Ozturk's extensive soccer knowledge spans over two decades and includes significant roles at various levels. At the University of Tennessee, he contributed to the Volunteers' fifth consecutive winning season in 2019 and helped them achieve a national ranking as high as #10. His responsibilities included leading tactical training, managing video analysis, preparing pre-scouting reports, and overseeing recruiting efforts. At Northwestern University, he focused on player video management and analysis, providing valuable insights to the coaching staff.
"Lastly, I'd like to express my gratitude to Kimberly Dudley for her kindness and hospitality, which made me feel right at home during my visit to Canyon" added Ozturk "The leadership at WTAMU has a clear and exciting vision for the future, and I am thrilled to contribute to creating a championship culture that prioritizes the success and experience of our student-athletes. I look forward to building something special with the WT family and community. Go Buffs!"
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ozturk moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, where his father was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base as a Lt. Colonel. Before his collegiate coaching roles, Ozturk spent 15 years making a significant impact at the semi-professional, club, and high school levels in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He led Lakeville North and Eagan High Schools to seven Minnesota state final fours over eight seasons, including four state championship game appearances and three state titles, amassing an impressive 141-13-17 high school coaching record as a Head Coach.
Ozturk also enjoyed notable success as a club coach, capturing four state championships and serving as the director of coaching for Dakota Rev SC (Now Salvo SC), Minnesota Thunder Academy (East & South), and Minnesota Twin Stars Academy. His most notable achievement came in 2013 when he guided Dakota REV to its first U.S. Club National Title in Minnesota history. Additionally, he led the Minnesota Thunder Academy U-15 team to the ECNL Champions League, earning a national ranking as high as third.
In his three seasons with Minnesota Twin Stars FC, Ozturk excelled as head coach of the WPSL team while also contributing as an assistant coach with the NPSL squad. His exceptional coaching efforts were recognized in 2015 when he was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association Minnesota High School Coach of the Year.
Ozturk's coaching career also includes stints at Division II Concordia University, St. Paul, and Division III Augsburg University and Hamline University. His coaching credentials include a U.S. Soccer Federation "B" License, a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, a United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Diploma, and multiple international coaching licenses from Brazil and Turkey, including his UEFA C license.
He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University (St. Paul, Minn.) and a dual master's in Sport Management and Sports Coaching from the U.S. Sports Academy (Daphne, Ala.).
About Bowlsby Sports Advisors
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"I would like to thank Kyle Bowlsby from Bowlsby Sports Advisors for his assistance and expertise in this search. Also, a special thank you to Kimberly Dudley, our Chief of Staff for her leadership throughout this process" added Lipinski.
