Orcas Island
Football Club
Our Mission
Welcome to Orcas Island FC, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people develop essential skills through soccer. We are the premier soccer club in the San Juan Islands. Our select soccer programs are designed to provide both competition and challenges, ensuring that each youth enjoys a positive and rewarding experience. Our recreational programs are a great way to build skills and play the game we all love. We recognize that financial barriers can prevent young people from accessing the benefits of playing soccer, which is why we work hard to remove these barriers. Our mission is to provide a supportive environment that helps our young players grow as both players and members of their community.
SPONSORS
PARTNERS
Our TEAM
Baturay Balic
Football Director / Head Coach
Baturay Balic, also known as Batu, was born on July 18, 1987, in Izmir, Turkey. He is a former professional soccer player with a deep family history in the game. His father, Gürsel Balic, is a former professional player, Turkish National Team player, and coach, and his grandfather, Beytullah Balic, was also a coach. With soccer in his blood, Batu began playing at a young age, spending countless hours playing in the streets starting around age seven.
Soon after, he joined a club team and competed in elite youth academy leagues at every age level before turning professional. During his playing career, Batu represented the following clubs:
• Balcovaspor (1998–2000)
• Altınordu (2000–2004)
• Alanyaspor (2004–2007)
• Menemenspor (2008–2009)
Due to a rare injury, Batu made the difficult decision to end his professional playing career and shift his focus toward education. He attended university, where he studied English and Russian languages.
Inspired by the coaching legacy of his father and grandfather, Batu set his sights on becoming a coach. He holds a UEFA C Coaching Diploma, reflecting his commitment to structured player development and modern coaching standards.
After moving to the United States in 2014, Batu worked as a youth coach at a private soccer school across Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, coaching players between the ages of 8 and 13.
In 2015, Batu began running youth soccer clinics through Orcas Island Park and Rec. The program quickly grew and became one of the most popular and respected youth sports programs in the island community.
Batu also coached the Orcas Island High School Soccer Team, leading them to second place in the Washington State Championship in 2018, followed by state championships in both 2021 and 2024. The Orcas Island High School team finished first in their league six consecutive years and holds the longest undefeated record in league history, remaining unbeaten for over four years across 60+ matches.
In addition to his high school success, Batu coached Orcas Island FC to an undefeated South Whidbey Island U12 League Championship in 2025, further highlighting his impact at the youth development level.
Throughout his coaching career, Batu has mentored and developed numerous players who have gone on to achieve significant milestones, including earning college soccer scholarships, winning league MVP awards, breaking long-standing goal records, and much more.
Batu’s main goal is to continue helping young players—especially island kids—develop not only as soccer players, but as confident individuals who can achieve their goals both on and off the field.
jack russillo
Treasurer
Jack was raised on Orcas and played at all levels the island had to offer up until his graduation from Orcas Island High School in 2014. He then played intramural soccer while at the University of Washington, in recreational leagues around the greater Seattle area, and has played in pickup games on five continents. He has also been an assistant coach for both the Orcas middle and high school teams. Jack currently lives at his family farm on the north end of the island and operates his own restoration ecology and landscape management business.
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When Jack learned he loved soccer, he sought out more than the few months of casual soccer than the island offered. He attended off-island camps in the summer for many years, played for a Bellingham-based club for a season one spring, and started playing at the island’s Sunday Soccer at the age of 10. It is Jack’s dream to bring year-round soccer to the island so that anybody can play the beautiful game to their heart’s content. Jack hopes to be running around with islanders, attempting to kick a ball into a net, for as long as possible, and he hopes that Orcas Island FC helps make that possible for anybody who has interest in joining.
Gabriel Reymundo Olivo
Assistant Coach
Born and raised in Whatcom County, Gabriel Reymundo Olivo brings a deep-rooted passion for the “beautiful game” and a commitment to mentorship to the Orcas Island Football Club.
Gabriel’s journey began on the playgrounds at Central Elementary and in indoor soccer facilities in Mexico while visiting family in Guadalajara, Jalisco. His potential was recognized early by his second-grade teacher, who personally enrolled him in his first organized team, the Ferndale Red Lions.
Financial barriers to joining a competitive select team at a young age, followed by a significant leg injury during his freshman year of high school, altered his path. These challenges shaped his resilience and led him toward discovering his love for art and building with his hands. While still playing year-round sports in high school, he lettered in varsity football, wrestling, and soccer.
Gabriel eventually returned to play fútbol with a semi-pro club, the Thurston County Premier Fútbol Club, where he learned the importance of physical recovery, proper nutrition, and mental fortitude.
Due to injuries, he stepped into recreational men’s division and co-ed recreational soccer in Whatcom County.
Beyond the pitch, Gabriel has spent years in the construction industry and has traveled extensively, sculpting art pieces on beaches, in jungles, and in tranquil forests. These experiences broadened his worldview and deepened his appreciation for community. He previously dedicated his free time to training youth ages 11–18 in Thurston County, preparing teams for the next level of competitive soccer and helping them overcome obstacles similar to those he faced.
At Orcas Island FC, Gabriel’s coaching philosophy centers on breaking down barriers to entry and fostering an environment of kindness and respect.
He believes that the awareness, collaboration, and mutual appreciation required to succeed in fútbol are essential life skills. Gabriel is dedicated to guiding young athletes to discover their full potential, ensuring they are prepared for success on whatever path they choose to follow.
Karimah Salaam
President
Karimah Salaam is a dedicated community leader and banking professional with over a decade of experience in leadership and customer service. As the President of the Orcas Island Football Club (OIFC), she brings a passion for youth development and a commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive sports culture on the island.
With a background in operational excellence—highlighted by her graduation from the 2025 Banker Development Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program (LEAP)—Karimah focuses on strengthening the club’s organizational structure, building sustainable community partnerships, and enhancing the experience for players and families alike.
Beyond her professional and club duties, Karimah is an active resident of Orcas Island who believes in the power of local sports to build character and community. Whether she is coordinating club-wide communications, securing sponsorships, or cheering from the sidelines, her goal remains the same: to ensure that every young athlete on the island has the opportunity to thrive on and off the pitch.
