John Ellinger
Encyclopedia
John Ellinger is a former American soccer coach of the Under-17 United States men's national soccer team
, and former head coach of Real Salt Lake
of Major League Soccer
.
Ellinger played collegiately at Frostburg State University
, graduating in 1973. He also played club ball with the Washington Soccer Club at the start of his coaching career.
After graduating from Frostburg State University, Ellinger taught gym at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, MD, where he coached a number of sports, including soccer. During this time, Tony Stevens, President and Founder of the Olney Soccer Club, served as an early mentor for Ellinger, helping to expand his sophisticated understanding of the game.
Ellinger was Tom Bichy's assistant at Montgomery College
from 1979 to 1981, where the team achieved a No. 5 national ranking. He left Montgomery to coach at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he stayed from 1981 to 1990.
Ellinger became a U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach in 1992, and has held a number of different jobs since then. Most notably, he has been the coach of the U-17 United States men's national soccer team
since 1997, and Director of Youth Development since 2001. In his role as coach of the U-17's, Ellinger has also headed up the USSF's Bradenton Academy, where many of the United States's most talented youths are developed. While at Bradenton, Ellinger had a significant role in developing many of the most outstanding of American soccer players, including Landon Donovan
, DaMarcus Beasley
, Bobby Convey
, Edward Johnson
, Chad Marshall
, Freddy Adu
, Eddie Gaven
, Danny Szetela
, and Jonathan Spector
.
In 2005, he joined Real Salt Lake to become the new expansion team's first coach. Previously, Ellinger had one season of professional coaching experience as an assistant coach for the Columbus Crew
in its inaugural 1996 season.
On May 3, 2007, he was replaced as RSL's head coach after two losing seasons, followed by a win less start in the first month of his third year. Ellinger's overall record with the club was 15-37-16.
After losing his coaching position, he was retained by RSL as the club's technical director and director of soccer operations, where he remained until September 2007.
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, and former head coach of Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Ellinger played collegiately at Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
, graduating in 1973. He also played club ball with the Washington Soccer Club at the start of his coaching career.
After graduating from Frostburg State University, Ellinger taught gym at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, MD, where he coached a number of sports, including soccer. During this time, Tony Stevens, President and Founder of the Olney Soccer Club, served as an early mentor for Ellinger, helping to expand his sophisticated understanding of the game.
Ellinger was Tom Bichy's assistant at Montgomery College
Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open access community college located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. in the United States. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville; the other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown...
from 1979 to 1981, where the team achieved a No. 5 national ranking. He left Montgomery to coach at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he stayed from 1981 to 1990.
Ellinger became a U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach in 1992, and has held a number of different jobs since then. Most notably, he has been the coach of the U-17 United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
since 1997, and Director of Youth Development since 2001. In his role as coach of the U-17's, Ellinger has also headed up the USSF's Bradenton Academy, where many of the United States's most talented youths are developed. While at Bradenton, Ellinger had a significant role in developing many of the most outstanding of American soccer players, including Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing....
, DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...
, Bobby Convey
Bobby Convey
Robert Francis "Bobby" Convey is an American soccer player.-Youth:Convey attended the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, played club soccer for the Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa, and was a member of the initial class of the Bradenton Academy that also included current national team...
, Edward Johnson
Eddie Johnson (American soccer player)
Edward "Eddie" Johnson is an American soccer player who is currently out of contract. He also plays for the United States national team, although he has not been called up since 2010.-Beginning of career and Dallas:...
, Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall is an American soccer player who currently captains the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, Freddy Adu
Freddy Adu
Fredua Koranteng "Freddy" Adu is a Ghanaian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder, but he is also used as a winger or forward....
, Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
, Danny Szetela
Danny Szetela
Daniel "Danny" Szetela is a former American soccer player.-Club:In 2002, Szetela entered USSF's Bradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed with Major League Soccer. His desire to play for his hometown club, the MetroStars, went unfulfilled...
, and Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Michael Paul Spector is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club...
.
In 2005, he joined Real Salt Lake to become the new expansion team's first coach. Previously, Ellinger had one season of professional coaching experience as an assistant coach for the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in its inaugural 1996 season.
On May 3, 2007, he was replaced as RSL's head coach after two losing seasons, followed by a win less start in the first month of his third year. Ellinger's overall record with the club was 15-37-16.
After losing his coaching position, he was retained by RSL as the club's technical director and director of soccer operations, where he remained until September 2007.