IUPUI men’s soccer introduces Sid van Druenen as new head coach

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI Athletics Department and Director of Athletics Dr. Roderick Perry have announced Sid van Druenen as its next head men’s soccer coach. van Druenen comes to IUPUI from Wright State University and is the seventh head coach in the men’s soccer program’s history.

“I want to thank the search committee for their work throughout the process. I am excited to welcome Coach van Druenen to the Jaguar family. He has an impressive coaching background and his core values align with the department. He has a clear, forward thinking vision and roadmap for achieving success,” Perry said. “He is committed to developing the entire student-athlete through a focus on academic and athletic success, university and community involvement, and all aspects of the student-athlete experience.

van Druenen had served as the top assistant at WSU since August 2018 after originally joining the Raiders as Director of Operations in July 2017. He helped the 2018 squad to a 13-3-3 mark and a Horizon League championship while the Raiders were ranked as high as No. 11 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. The following season, he helped Wright State to a historic season as the Raiders won the Horizon League title and earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Raiders proceeded to knock off Notre Dame in the opening round and played No. 13 Michigan State to a scoreless draw before falling in penalty kicks. WSU standout Deri Corfe was drafted 41st overall in the 2020 MLS Super Draft by the New York Red Bulls.

van Druenen’s winning background and knowledge of the Horizon League made IUPUI an attractive position.

“I want to start by thanking Dr. Perry and the entire search committee for trusting me with the position of head men’s soccer coach at IUPUI,” van Druenen said. “I am very excited to get started and meeting everyone at the university. I also want to thank Jake Slemker and all the players and staff that I’ve worked with at Wright State for an awesome five years and all the lessons learned.

“Lastly, thank you to my wife Alexa for her everyday support and love.”

van Druenen brings a professional background to the IUPUI program as well as he was general manager and PDL head coach for the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC. He was head coach for the Dayton Dutch Lions FC in the USL PRO in 2014, which is the second highest division in the USA’s professional pyramid. At the time, he was the league’s youngest head coach. He began his coaching career as manager of the Dayton Dutch Lions W-League women’s team.

His playing experience took him to the Netherlands and Portugal, among other stops.

“Becoming a Division I head coach was the goal when I left the professional game,” van Druenen said. “I’m excited to get started. Coming from Wright State, I have some familiarity with (IUPUI) and the program overall. I won’t have to adapt to an entirely new environment, so that will help with the transition.”

His first two orders of business include evaluating the existing roster and hitting the recruiting trail to fill out the 2022 roster. He officially begins duties on Feb. 10.