Bill Irwin, Director of Soccer


Bill Irwin SmlIrwin is in his eighth year as the Director of Soccer at the University of Portland. Following the passing of legendary head coach Clive Charles, Irwin was promoted in the fall of 2003 after serving 16 years as an assistant. Irwin and the Pilot coaching staff are responsible for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams as a combined staff. 

Irwin and the coaching staff have carried on the tradition of elite soccer on The Bluff, which was begun by Charles in 1986. In 2009, Irwin directed the men’s side to their 14th postseason appearance. The Pilots advanced to the NCAA Third Round, where they lost to eventual national champion Virginia 1-0 in Charlottesville, Va. Previously, the Pilots defeated New Mexico 2-1 in overtime at New Mexico in the first round, and posted a 2-1 win at N.C. State during the second round.     

During the 2005 season, the UP women won their second NCAA National Championship in four years. The Pilots finished 23-0-2 to become just the second team in NCAA Division I women’s soccer history to complete an unbeaten season with a championship. The Pilots have reached four straight NCAA Quarterfinals and have not missed the postseason since 1999.

Irwin came to The Bluff as an assistant coach prior to the 1987 season and was reunited with Charles, his long-time friend and former professional teammate, beginning at Cardiff City in the English Second Division in 1971. Irwin has a distinguished record as a goalkeeping specialist as all six starting men’s goalkeepers who trained under Irwin at UP have gone on to play professionally: Greg Maas, Kasey Keller, Stuart Dobson, Scott Hileman, Curtis Spiteri and most recently Luis Robles. Keller, a three-time All-American and the 1991 Adidas Goalkeeper of the Year, was a regular on the U.S. National Team (1990, 98, 2002 and 06 World Cups), captained the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team in Atlanta and is a two-time U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year. Robles, who was a three-time All-WCC First Team selection and the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year, is currently with FC Kaiserslautern of Germany’s Second Bundesliga. During the summer of 2008, Robles got his first international cap when he started for the U.S. during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

In the women’s net, Michelle Voiland (1991-94) was a three-time All-WCC pick. Erin Fahey (1991-93, 95) earned All-America status in ’95 after leading the nation with a school-record 16 shutouts in 23 games and recording the country’s third-lowest goals-against average, 0.46. Cheryl Loveless became the third Irwin-coached keeper to be named All-America after posting a 0.42 GAA (No. 2 nationally) and 13 shutouts (No. 3 nationally) in 1996. In 1997, Angela Harrison was named first team All-Far West region to become the fourth Irwin protégé to earn post-season regional or national honors. In 1998, Harrison bested her own school and WCC goals-against average with a 0.30 effort, finishing third in the nation. The Pilots posted a school-record 17 shutouts en route to the 2002 NCAA Championship, and followed with 16 shutouts in 2003 with then-freshman keeper Cori Alexander minding the nets each contest. Alexander went on to become UP’s all-time leader in career shutouts (39) and career saves (259). She was the 2005 College Cup Defensive MVP. Kelsey Davis, also an All-American, just concluded her career No. 2 on the school charts in goals-against average (0.47) and third in shutouts (34). Davis was drafted with the 24th pick in the 2010 WPS draft by the Chicago Red Stars.

Irwin, who is currently the head coach of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team after previously coaching the U-21’s, has extensive experience on both the men’s and women’s side of the U.S. National Team circuit. During the summer of 2007, Irwin led the U-23’s, which featured three Pilots, to the Nordic Cup Title in Vaasa, Finland. Early in 2006, he was with the full women’s squad for the second straight year serving along with head coach Greg Ryan. In 2004, he was with the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team which also cruised to the Nordic Cup title in Iceland. He has also worked with the U-18 Boy’s National Team, and was named goalkeeper coach of the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team in 1997. Irwin has served as goalkeeper coach for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team since 1999, which included a trip to the 2001 World Youth Championships in Argentina. Irwin also trained keepers on the 1998 World Cup team, the 2000 Olympic team, and U-18, U-17 and U-16 national teams. In addition, Irwin is a national staff coach, and OYSA staff coach.

Irwin is a F.C. Portland staff coach and has coached the U-15 and U-16 girls to the Oregon State Championship. He also coaches U-15 and U-18 boys in the F.C. program, is certified as an “A” licensed coach and is a member of the Region IV staff.

Irwin’s soccer background includes 17 years in the pro ranks. He began playing semi-pro as a 16-year-old in Northern Ireland, where he earned several youth and amateur international caps. He played eight seasons in England with Cardiff City, winning several Welsh Cups, and played in the European Cup Winner’s Cup competition, before moving to the United States in 1978 and playing for three years with the NASL’s Washington Diplomats. His seven-year NASL experience also took him to the Dallas Tornado (1981), the Portland Timbers (1982) and the San Jose Earthquakes (1983-84). His final two pro campaigns were in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the Minnesota Strikers (1985) and the Wichita Wings (1986).

Irwin, 57, and his wife, Liz, live in Portland and are the parents of two sons: Bryan (23), who is a former forward for the Pilots, and Nicholas (16).

Garrett Smith, Associate Director of Soccer

Mug GarrettGarrett Smith was promoted to associate director of soccer and head women’s coach in the fall of 2003 after serving 11 years as an assistant to coach Clive Charles. Smith, who also assists the men’s team, has lifted the women’s program to new heights during his seven years in the main seat. He has advanced the team to the NCAA quarterfinals six years, highlighted by an undefeated 2005 national championship season. He has posted a 137-19-7 (.862) career record as head coach, including a 42-3-4 (.898) mark in the West Coast Conference and enters 2010 with a league record 21-match conference winning streak.

Smith led the Pilots to a 21-2-0 record in 2009, the fourth 20-win campaign in his seven years at the helm. Despite losing All-American striker Michelle Enyeart to a season ending injury in the final regular season match, Smith and the Pilots advanced to the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season and led the nation in attendance for the fifth straight year. The Pilots went 20 games in 2008 and overcome a rash of injuries and national team conflicts – Stephanie Lopez and Sophie Schmidt at the World Cup – to post an 18-4-0 record in 2007. He earned National Coach of the Year honors from FieldTurf in ‘07, his second such honor after claiming the Soccer Times National Coach of the Year award in 2005. Smith also has earned three consecutive WCC Coach of the Year awards and four overall.

Smith orchestrated a record-breaking 2005 season that resulted in the school’s second NCAA title in four years. Portland finished 23-0-2 and routed UCLA in the title game by a 4-0 margin. The Pilots became just the second school in history to complete an unbeaten season with a title, joining North Carolina. The Pilots also became the third program to win multiple women’s soccer titles along with North Carolina and Notre Dame. Portland became the first program to bring in more than 40,000 fans in one season. Along the way, Smith became a fan favorite for his straight-forward and reserved coaching nature...so reserved that a member of the media compared his sideline coaching style to putting on a “poker face.”

No matter the style, Smith has produced phenomenal results, both as an assistant and as a head coach. After helping Portland claim the school’s first NCAA championship in any sport as an assistant in 2002, Smith took the helm and led the Pilot women to the third round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003, finishing with an 18-3-2 overall record. Impressive as the record was, it was even more remarkable considering the nation’s best player - Christine Sinclair - was forced to redshirt the entire season while competing in the FIFA World Cup for her native Canada. Sinclair returned in 2004, but the Pilots were again shorthanded as three of the team’s top players - Angie Woznuk, Stephanie Lopez and Megan Rapinoe - redshirted while competing with the U.S. Under-19 National Team at the FIFA Youth World Championships. Despite their absence, Smith and the Pilots would claim the fourth 20-win season in program history before falling to eventual national champion Notre Dame in the NCAA quarterfinals. With “all the Pilots home” in 2005, nobody could topple the Pilots.

UP has made its mark as a premier soccer school, but academics also play a strong role in the program. In the last seven years, the Smith has coached eight Academic All-Americans, including the 2005 Academic All-American of the Year, Christine Sinclair. Sinclair also won the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy for the second consecutive year and won the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, which spans all sports at the NCAA Division I level.

Smith and the Pilots coaching staff have continued many of the traditions passed on by Charles, specifically preparing players for the next level. Since 2003 three Smith-coached Pilots have played with the senior U.S. National Team - Stephanie Lopez, Angie Woznuk and Megan Rapinoe – and Sophie Schmidt and Christine Sinclair have been regulars with the Canadian National Team. Lopez, Schmidt and Sinclair were all starters at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Much of Smith’s coaching success mirrors his career achievements as a player. In college, Smith was one of the highest-scoring defenders in University of Portland soccer history with 25 points (7G, 11A). His collegiate soccer career at UP (1986-89) was highlighted by the 1988 team’s fabulous run to the NCAA Final Four coming within one game of the national championship match. The Pilots won their first 21 games of that season before losing 1-0 to eventual champion Indiana in the semifinals. Smith was an All-WCC first team pick in 1989 and was named team MVP in 1986. He was a three-time All-Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference selection.

Smith began his professional career with the Portland Timbers of the Western Soccer League in 1989. He played one season for the Seattle Storm of the APSL in 1990, before joining the San Diego Soccers of the Major Indoor Soccer League for the 1991 season. Smith concluded his professional career playing for the Portland Pride of the CISL from 1993-95.

Born on December 14, 1967, Smith attended Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Wash., and competed with the Washington U-19 State Team. Smith and his wife, Christina, have three daughters: Hannah, Nicole and Sydney.

Rob Baarts, Assistant Coach

Mug BarrtsBaarts was hired to his current position in June, 2004. He assists in all phases of the men’s and women’s soccer programs, while traveling with the men. His first year on The Bluff resulted in a pair of NCAA appearances from the program and the fourth 20-win season in history on the women’s side. Both the men’s and women’s teams advanced to the postseason in 2009, with the Pilot men reaching the NCAA Third Round and the women advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

Baarts began his coaching career at the youth level with the Portland City United from 1989-90, before coaching Portland Metro for 12 years. He has been with F.C. Portland since 2001 and was the varsity boys coach at Sunset High School for eight years (1995-2002). Baarts is currently an active member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), is an “A” license holder and is the age group coordinator for the U-13’s at FC Portland.

A member of the Provincial Team and Canadian National Team in 1989, Baarts was a four-year STARTER for the Pilots as a forward from 1987-90, finishing his career with 29 goals and 14 assists. His 13 game-winning goals rank second all-time on the Pilot charts. He helped guide the 1988 Pilots to an undefeated regular-season and to the program’s first NCAA semifinal appearance.

Baarts played professional indoor soccer for 10 years, including a long stint with the Portland Pride.

A native of Surrey, B.C., Baarts (40) is married to Shelly and he has two sons: Tyler (18) and Tanner (9). Tyler is a freshman on the UP soccer team.


Lisa Sari, Assistant Coach

Mug LisaSari concluded her playing career at Portland in the fall of 2006, graduated in the spring of 2007 and immediately joined the coaching staff in June. Her main duties include recruiting, player development and managing the program’s summer camps.

A leader and model of consistency for the Pilots during her career on the pitch, Sari played and started all 96 matches while on The Bluff, anchoring the midfield of a program that posted a 78-11-7 record, highlighted by four consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and an undefeated 2005 NCAA Championship season. She came in as a freshman when head coach Garrett Smith was elevated from his assistant position and Smith recognized her abilities as a leader, teacher and motivator from the beginning.

Sari posted career totals of 10 goals and 15 assists. She was twice named to the All-West Coast Conference team and has also been prominently involved in the U.S. Youth National Team system, participating in U.S. Under-21 team camps for the last two years.

Earning a starting spot on a young team as a freshman in 2003, Sari tallied four goals and four assists while guiding the youthful Pilots to the third round of the NCAA playoffs. She had four goals and six assists in 2004 as the Pilots reached the NCAA quarterfinals. During the unforgettable 2005 title season, Sari earned all-conference honors for the first time and helped Portland cruise to an undefeated record. As a senior in 2006, she again earned All-WCC honors and helped an injury-riddled lineup advance to the quarterfinals.

On the coaching front, Sari has been a prominent youth coach since her senior year in high school. She has worked in the FC Portland system the last four years and has been a camp counselor at the Bill Irwin and Garrett Smith Camps on the Portland campus over that span as well. She currently holds a D coaching license.

Brandon McNeil, Assistant Coach

Mug BrandonBrandon McNeil, a former defender for the Pilots, joined the University of Portland soccer coaching staff in July of 2008. He assists in all phases of the men’s and women’s soccer programs, while traveling with the men. McNeil came to UP after one season as head coach of the girls soccer team at Lincoln High School in downtown Portland.

In his one season at the helm of the Cardinals, McNeil led the team to the Oregon 6A State Championship and was named the state coach of the year. Lincoln finished the 2007 season with a perfect 18-0 record to claim the school’s first state title in girls soccer. Previously, McNeil was an assistant coach for the Sunset H.S. (Portland, Ore.) boys soccer team for three years (2004-06).

A coach at F.C. Portland since 2003, McNeil is currently the U-14 and U-16 boys coordinator and coaches the U-13 Boys Bronze Team. He has also been the Program Assistant for F.C. since 2005.

McNeil (1998-2001) was a four-year starter for the Pilots and earned All-West Coast Conference honors as a senior. Originally from San Diego, Calif., McNeil scored two goals and handed out 17 assists during his career on The Bluff. He helped the Pilots reach the NCAA postseason twice, advancing to the third round in 2001.

McNeil and his wife Kristina tied the knot during the summer of 2010.


Whitney Stipetich, Director of Soccer Operations

Mug WhitneyStipetich joined the University of Portland soccer staff in June of 2009 as the director of soccer operations. Her primary duties will be the management of summer camps and coordinating travel arrangements and itineraries.

Stipetich worked the previous three years for the United States Soccer Federation as the National Team Coordinator for the Men’s and Women’s National Teams. She was responsible for coordinating with hotel, airline and transportation managers to organize all meals, hotel arrangements and travel itineraries. Stipetich also scheduled teams, coaches and officials, while providing on-site services for players and staff as needed.

In December of 2008, she was hired by The Ohio State University Athletic Department to manage the university’s sports camps. Stipetich jointly handled registration duties for one of the largest collegiate sports camp operations in the country, consisting of 12,000 campers and $3 million dollars in camp fees. She also assisted in camp scheduling for particular sports.

Stipetich played collegiate soccer at the University of Kentucky and was a leader for community service initiatives, including volunteer work with the Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army and Lexington Public School system.