Head Coach: U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team
Hometown: Portland, Oregon

In 2007, Bill Irwin took over as the head coach of the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team and won his first Nordic Cup title in Finland. Irwin now oversee the team in its first year as an Under-23 program.

Irwin has extensive experience as an assistant coach for the U.S. Soccer Federation, working with teams at nearly ever level of Men’s and Women’s National Team programs. He has served as goalkeeper coach for the full Women’s National Team and prior to him becoming head coach, worked numerous training camps with the U-21 women. Irwin has also worked on the men’s side with the full Men’s National Team, the Olympic Team, the U-20s (including the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina) and U-18s.

Irwin, who is the Director of Soccer at the University of Portland and head men’s soccer coach, took over those positions in 2003 after the passing of the legendary Clive Charles. Irwin served 16 seasons as an assistant to Charles.

Irwin came to Portland 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 coach, training numerous men’s professional goalkeepers, including the legendary Kasey Keller.

Irwin is also an F.C. Portland staff coach and has coached the U-15 and U-16 girls to the Oregon state championships. He also coaches U-15 and U-18 boys in the F.C. program.

Irwin began playing semi-pro as a 16-year-old in Northern Ireland, earning 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, 56, and his wife, Liz, live in Portland and are the parents of two sons: Bryan (21), who is a forward for the Pilots, and Nicholas (15). Irwin has a USSF “A” license.