PORTLAND, Ore. – Long-time University of Portland Director of Soccer Bill Irwin announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down from his head coaching position, effective immediately. Irwin has been on the soccer staff at Portland for 29 years, including the last 13 seasons as head coach of the men's program.

"After 29 years here, including many great years with Clive Charles, it is time to step aside," Irwin said. "I feel very fortunate to have been a part of two men's Final Fours, two NCAA Women's Championships, and getting the opportunity to coach so many wonderful student-athletes who have gone on to accomplish amazing things in a wide variety of careers, including a number who have gone on to play professionally all over the world. I want to thank the University for 29 great years and am confident that the program will have great success in the future."

"Bill was an integral part of putting University of Portland soccer on the map," Portland Athletic Director Scott Leykam said. "His professionalism helped lead the soccer programs to unprecedented heights, but his legacy is much more than his on-field accomplishments. Bill has been a dedicated member of the Pilot family and we will always be thankful for his contributions to the University."

Irwin came to The Bluff as an assistant coach prior to the 1987 season, reuniting with his friend and former professional teammate, Clive Charles. He spent 16 seasons alongside Charles building the Pilots men's and women's soccer teams into national powerhouse programs that reached a combined 10 NCAA College Cup semifinals appearances and culminated with a women's NCAA Championship in 2002, the first NCAA title for the University of Portland.

Charles passed away after battling prostate cancer in the summer of 2003 and Irwin was promoted to director of soccer and men's head coach prior to the start of the 2003 season. He also served on the combined coaching staff with the women's program through the 2013 season and was a part of the undefeated 2005 NCAA Championship team.

During his head coaching tenure, Irwin led the Pilots to four NCAA Tournament appearances – 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009. The 2009 squad reached the third round before losing to eventual NCAA champion Virginia on the road.

Irwin, a noted goalkeeper coaching specialist, trained six men's goalkeepers that went on to professional playing careers: Kasey Keller, Luis Robles, Greg Maas, Stuart Dobson, Scott Hileman, Curtis Spiteri, and most recently Austin Guerrero. Keller, a three-time All-American and the 1991 Adidas Goalkeeper of the Year, was a regular on the U.S. National Team (1990, 1998, 2002 and 2006 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 was named the 2015 Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year.

His work with women's goalkeepers at UP included All-America honors for Erin Fahey (1995) and Cheryl Loveless (1996), while Cori Alexander earned 2005 College Cup Defensive MVP honors.

Irwin has also been a regular on both the women's and men's U.S. National Team circuit. He has worked directly with the U.S. Women's National Team, U-23 Women's National Team, U-21 Women's National Team, U-20 Women's National Team, U-20 Men's National Team U-18 Boy's National Team, and also trained keepers on the 1998 World Cup team, the 2000 Olympic team, and U-18, U-17 and U-16 national teams.

A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately, according to Leykam.