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Ian Doherty will enter his 9th season at the helm of the Millikin University Women's Soccer program in the fall of 2026. The 8th head coach in program history, Doherty joined the Big Blue in June of 2018.
Through eight seasons, Doherty has become the winningest coach in the history of the Big Blue Women's Soccer program, surpassing the win total set by Caroline Bonynge in 2024. He has compiled a record of 47-59-14, with 18 CCIW wins to his name, also the most of any Millikin Head Women's Soccer Coach. Doherty has coached 15 All-CIW selections during his tenure.
In 2025, Millikin posted a 4-10-4 record, with a 1-5-2 mark in CCIW play.
Doherty's 2024 squad posted the best record in program history at 14-4-1, and posted the highest CCIW finish in program history at 5-3 to take 3rd. Elly Hermanson earned All-CCIW marks for the third straight season, making her the only player in program history to do so. Katy Bearden and Addie Gudaitas were each selected all-conference for the first time, as was Izzy Jones who became the first CCIW Newcomer of the Year in program history. The Big Blue qualified for the CCIW tournament, hosting a postseason game for the first time in program history. Millikin defeated Augustana 2-1, before bowing out against eventual champion North Central in the semifinals.
In 2023, Millikin went 7-6-4, with a 2-2-4 record in conference play, finishing 5th. Millikin had four All-CCIW honorees. Bailee Blecker and Elly Hermanson repeated their recognitions from 2022, while Mia Brown and Sophie Dorgan earned the accolade for the first time. The Big Blue qualified for the CCIW tournament for the first time under Doherty, knocking off four-seed Augustana 1-0 in double-overtime in the opening round. Millikin would fall to eventual champion North Central in the semifinals.
The 2022 Big Blue squad finished 5-7-3 overall, with a 3-4-1 CCIW record to end up tied for 6th. Bailee Blecker and Elly Hermanson went on to be named All-CCIW.
2021 saw Millikin break the .500 mark for the first time since 2016, going 8-8. The Big Blue were 3-5 in conference action, tying for 6th. Hope Limoges and Maddy Wood were both named to the second team All-CCIW.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. Millikin played limited exhibition contests in the spring of 2021, with only two countable contests.
In 2019, Doherty's side recorded a 3-11-2 overall mark, 1-7 in the CCIW to finish 8th. Kat Stiles was named the second team All-CCIW.
In his first season leading the program, Doherty led the team to a 6-11 record, placing 7th in the CCIW with a record of 3-5. Lucy Koger and Sydney Rudny earned All-CCIW honors.
Prior to Millikin, Doherty served for one season as the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Wesleyan College. In his lone campaign, he led the program to the USA South tournament for the first time in school history. Before then he had assistant coaching stops with the Wittenberg University women for two seasons, winning an NCAC title in 2016, and two seasons at Otterbein University with the men.
Doherty graduated from Otterbein University in 2008, with a Bachelor's of Arts in History. He went on to earn his Master's of Science in Recreation and Sports Sciences form Ohio University in 2015, with an emphasis on Soccer Coaching.
A native of Colombus, Ohio, Ian resides in Champaign with his wife Sarah, and their three daughters McKenna, Genevieve, and Norah.
