Iona advances past Siena in penalty kicks (0-0, 4-3) to move on to the semifinals.
Gareth Elliott enters his fourth year as head coach of the Siena men's soccer program. In his first three seasons he has guided the Saints to a 27-24-5 (.527) overall record including an impressive 17-8-2 (.648) mark in the MAAC.
In eight seasons as a collegiate coach (five as an assistant and three as head coach) and four years as a player he has never been part of a losing club.
Siena's 27 overall wins and 17 conference victories during Elliott's brief but successful tenure are the most in a three-year span in program history. Additionally, he holds the best overall and MAAC winning percentage in program history.
2010 was an historic season for Elliott and the Saints as the program posted a 10-8-1 overall record with a 7-2 mark in the MAAC. After beginning the campaign 1-4, the Saints rebounded to finish 9-4-1 over their final 14 games and advance to the MAAC Championships for the second time in three seasons under Elliott. The Saints finished with 10 wins, marking their second highest single-season total in program history and just the second time the program reached double figures in victories.
The offense exploded during the 2010 season as the Saints scored a program-record 49 goals which ranked fourth nationally. During the season, Elliott guided the program to its 200th all-time win while also leading Siena to a 7-2-0 MAAC mark for a second time in three years - the program's best conference record.
Additionally, Elliott coached the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year in addition to five other All-MAAC selections and four members of the MAAC All-Academic Team. He also mentored the Siena Male Rookie of the Year and two All-Region honorees. Following the season, senior Steve Covino became the first Saint to sign a pro contract, inking with FC New York.
Elliott led the Saints to an 8-8-3 overall record in 2009 as he continued to transform the program. They enjoyed marquee wins against Rhode Island and Boston College. Elliott and his staff spanned Europe and North America to find talent that resulted in three MAAC All-Rookie Team selections and the MAAC Rookie of the Year.
In his first year at the helm, Siena went 9-8-1 and won seven league games. It was the most since joining the conference in 1989, and earned Siena the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament.
Prior to Siena, Elliott served as an assistant coach for five years at the University of Rhode Island, his alma mater, where he helped guide the Rams to three Atlantic 10 championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. Elliott, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, stands among the most successful student-athletes in Rhode Island soccer history. During his playing career, he led the Rams to two Atlantic 10 regular-season titles, two Atlantic 10 postseason championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Elliott, a starting striker at Rhode Island from 1998-2001, ranks seventh all-time in career points. He appeared in 78 games over his career and finished with 87 points, including 31 goals and 25 assists. He was a three-time Atlantic 10 All-Championship team honoree, and was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region team in 2001. In 2000, Elliott was named the Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP, helping Rhode Island advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
As a professional, Elliott played one season with the Ards Football Club of the Irish Premier League. He started 35 games for the squad during his career.
In 2003, Elliott returned to his alma mater to begin his collegiate coaching career as an assistant under former Rams head coach Ed Bradley. As assistant coach, Elliott helped lead URI to three Atlantic 10 Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. In the Rams last appearance in 2006, Elliott helped the team advance to the Second Round.
YEAR-BY-YEAR WITH COACH ELLIOTT
YEAR
OVERALL
PCT
MAAC
PCT
CONF FINISH
HIGHLIGHTS
2008
9-8-1
.527
7-2-0
.777
2nd
Set program record for MAAC wins
2009
8-8-3
.500
3-4-2
.388
7th
Secured wins over regional powers Boston College and Rhode Island
2010
10-8-1
.553
7-2-0
.777
2nd
Posted second most wins in program history; Tied program record for MAAC wins; Set program record for goals (49)
