Head coach Greg Maas named Matt Ellinger Associate Head Coach of Wolverine men's soccer on May 8, 2013. He is entering his fourth season with UVU in 2017.
During his tenure, which spans the entirety of the program's existence, the Wolverines have amassed a 38-17-5 record all-time, won a WAC Championship in 2016 and were selected as an at-large team to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.Â
Ellinger came to UVU from the University of Utah where he was the head coach of the men's soccer club team. During his tenure, the Utes were regional finalists during both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Local fans might already be acquainted with the Ellinger name when it comes to soccer in the state of Utah. Matt's father, John Ellinger, was the first head coach of Real Salt Lake, piloting the organization through its initial years in Major League Soccer. The younger Ellinger also spent significant time with RSL. He held stints as the Creative Services Manager as well as the head coach of the U16 and U17 teams, helping to establish RSL's youth development programs in Arizona and Florida.
From there, Ellinger accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Central Arkansas, an NCAA Division I member that competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. While there, he spearheaded the Bears' recruiting efforts through his strong ties to the state of Utah. The current UCA roster features four student-athletes from the Beehive State.
After two seasons with the Bears, Ellinger returned to Utah to take on his most recent role with the Utes. He has also held positions with the Arkansas Rush and Sparta United, two nationally recognized, youth soccer clubs. Ellinger holds his U.S. Soccer 'A' License.
"Coach Ellinger is a very motivated and knowledgeable coach who will bring a wealth of experience to the program," Maas said. "It's evident he is passionate about coaching, and he will be a tremendous mentor to our players both on and off of the field. He's very connected throughout the U.S. Soccer community, and he's excited to take a major role in our player identification and development process. UVU men's soccer is very fortunate to have Coach Ellinger on its staff."
Ellinger played collegiately for two seasons at Winthrop University before transferring to Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. There, he completed his bachelor's degree in graphic design and marketing. Ellinger presently resides in Draper, Utah, with his wife Lori and two children, Avery and Alice.
