Athletic Hall of Fame: Ivan Ristic

Ivan Ristic came to Oklahoma Wesleyan University from Belgrade, Serbia, to play soccer. He was a member of the OKWU men’s soccer team from 2012 to 2015, and he was a key contributor to the program during his time. In those four years, the Eagles made the NAIA tournament four times, and won three conference regular-season championships to go along with two conference tournament championships. Ristic was named OKWU’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 2015 and was an NAIA All-American twice.

In 77 career games, Ristic scored 23 goals and added 5 assists from his primary position as defender.

In 2019, Ristic returned to OKWU as the head coach of the women’s soccer program. Since then, he has helped shape the Lady Eagles into an NAIA powerhouse, dominating the KCAC and earning a trip to the NAIA Tournament each year.

He has coached numerous All-Americans and the 2023 NAIA Player of the Year, Laura Maria. As of the end of the 2023 season, Ristic has compiled a 95-13-5 record. He will surpass the 100-win milestone in the 2024 season.

For his contributions to OKWU Athletics as both a player and head coach, Ristic will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Homecoming 2024.