Chicago House Athletic Club, Chicago’s new professional soccer team, announced the hiring of Assistant Coach, Duygu Erdoğan. Erdoğan becomes the first-ever female coach in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) and is the only woman currently coaching in men’s professional soccer in the United States. Erdoğan will join the House coaching staff immediately.
“I’m excited that CJ is adding to the diversity of his staff by bringing in Duygu to join Guillermo, Trevor, Matt and Braden,” shares Chicago House AC Managing Partner, President & CEO, Peter Wilt. “Coincidentally, CJ met Duygu at the New York Red Bulls two years ago, on the same trip to the United States that I met her at Forward Madison. The immigration process that began in January took a while to complete, but was worth the wait. Duygu’s experience coaching men’s teams in Turkey and Germany will translate well to add valuable perspective for CJ and Chicago House.”
Erdoğan (33) brings an extensive list of coaching experience to the House. Most recently, from 2016-2018 she spent time as an Assistant Coach with Germany Rot Weiß Oberhausen Club. Prior to this position, she served as an Assistant Coach with five different teams in Turkey and Germany from 2010-2016, including Germany SG Wattenscheid 09 Club Football, Turkey Elazığspor Club Football, Galatasaray Sports Club Football, Galatasaray Sports Club Girls Soccer Teams (where she was a founder of the program) and Galatasaray Sports Club Football İstanbul-Florya. Prior to coaching football professionally, Erdoğan was an Elementary School Physical Education Teacher in İstanbul Zeytinburnu Ziya Gökalp from 2011-2012 and a Junior Football Team Coach with Turkey Besiktas Gymnastic Club Football from 2008-2010. Erdoğan also played the beautiful game in Turkey, with İstanbul Maltepe Yalıspor, İstanbul Marmara University Sports Club and İstanbul University Football Team.
In addition to Erdoğan’s experience on the field, she also boasts an impressive list of certifications, including the Turkish Football Association Help Certificate, the Turkish Football Association Mandatory Evolution Seminars Certificate, a Turkish Football Federation A License, the Turkish Football Association Mandatory Evolution Seminars Certificate, and an İstanbul University Pedagogical Formation Certificate. She also attended seminars and programs at the İstanbul University School Physical Education Sport Rise and the U.S.A. Livcon the International Instıtute For Training & Consulting.
“The reason I’m here is because of Peter Wilt’s mentality, and how he looks at the sport of football – his love of football has brought so many people together,” explains Chicago’s newest Assistant Coach. “I’m also here because of CJ Brown’s character as a coach. CJ is very enthusiastic and very supportive towards his team. He is a great leader. I’m here because I embrace this mentality and character.”
For more information on Chicago House AC’s roster and coaching staff, please visit www.chicagohouseac.com.
ABOUT Chicago House AC
Founded in 2020, Chicago House Athletic Club is a community-based professional soccer team that plays its home matches at the 20,000 capacity SeatGeek Stadium at 71st and Harlem in Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA,) a U.S. Soccer sanctioned third division league. Led by Managing Partner, President & CEO Peter Wilt, Chicago House AC is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) committed to using its platform for social justice, diversity, equality, inclusion and community improvement. The club’s name is a tribute to House Music, which was created in Chicago in the early 1980’s. Fans can help #BuildTheHouse by purchasing tickets at www.chicagohouseac.com/tickets or by calling our Ticket Sales Team at (312) 444-0976. For more information on Chicago House AC, please visit www.chicagohouseac.com and follow the club on social media @ChicagoHouse_AC. Our City, Our House.
ABOUT NISA
The National Independent Soccer Association was founded in 2017 with a mission to bring professional soccer to every city in the United States. A pro league member of U.S. Soccer, NISA focuses on a model based on meritocracy, independent clubs controlling their own league, clubs owning their intellectual property, all without the barrier of territorial rights. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, NISA also runs the mid-summer pro-am Independent Cup tournament, the year-long amateur league NISA Nation, and NISA Media.