TIFTON, Ga. — A former starting sweeper for Black Sea Technical University in Trabzon, Turkey, is the new head soccer coach at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer said Aliriza Sisman has been selected as only the second head coach in the history of intercollegiate women’s soccer at ABAC.

 “Coach Sisman brings a knowledge of the sport, from the perspective of both player and coach, which will greatly benefit our student-athletes,” Kramer said. “He also has many local and international recruiting connections that will benefit our program from a recruiting standpoint. We are excited about the passion he has for soccer and his interest in developing players.”

Sisman replaces Jimmy Ballenger who stepped down as the soccer coach to assume full-time classroom duties at ABAC. Ballenger was hired as the ABAC’s first soccer coach in 2006 when the Fillies literally had no soccer balls and no soccer field. He compiled a record of 116-84-7 in 12 seasons. ABAC now has an on-campus soccer field.

“I am glad to have the opportunity to join the ABAC family,” Sisman said.  “I look forward to working closely with the ABAC academic team and its soccer players. My goal is to lead the ABAC soccer team to further heights by guiding and training all the players individually and collectively to reach the players’ and the team’s fullest potential.”

Sisman played soccer for Osman Ulkumen High School in Istanbul before becoming a starter for the Black Sea Technical University team. He has coached the United Futbol Academy South Georgia Under 14, Under 15 and Under 17 girls’ and boys’ teams for the past four years. 

A United States Soccer Federation certified referee, Sisman has been serving on the Georgia Olympic Development Program coaching staff for the Tifton Region District Training Center program for the past two years. He holds a United States Soccer Federation “C” coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Advance Coaching Diploma.

Sisman has been living in Valdosta for the past four years with his wife, Maral, and their sons, Yusuf and Deniz.