Inside the Game Welcomes Rhode Island Head Coach Gareth Elliott

Jonathan Turner
Sep 26, 2025
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Inside the Game Welcomes Rhode Island Head Coach Gareth Elliott

(Shelby Twp., MI) – On today’s episode of Inside the Game, we are joined by Gareth Elliott, who enters his 13th season at the helm of the Rhode Island men’s soccer program in 2025. A Belfast, Northern Ireland native, Elliott’s story is deeply woven into the fabric of Rhody soccer, spanning from his days as a standout player to his run of success as head coach.

Elliott has been a part of seven of URI’s eight Atlantic 10 Championships — winning two as a player (1999, 2000), three as an assistant coach (2003, 2005, 2006), and two more as head coach (2018, 2019). Since returning to Kingston in 2013, he has compiled 102 career wins with the Rams, making him just the third coach in program history to reach the century mark.

His coaching journey is marked by remarkable turnarounds. After inheriting a last-place team in 2013, Elliott guided the Rams to the Atlantic 10 regular-season crown just one year later, a transformation that earned him the 2014 A-10 Coach of the Year award. Under his leadership, URI advanced to six straight A-10 semifinals from 2014 through 2019, highlighted by back-to-back conference titles and NCAA Tournament bids in 2018 and 2019.

Beyond team success, Elliott has developed players ready for the professional stage. Patrick Agyemang was selected 12th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC — the highest pick in program history — before earning U.S. National Team recognition and joining Derby County of the English Championship in 2025. Just a year later, Patrick Gryczewski became Elliott’s second SuperDraft pick in three seasons, selected by Austin FC.

Elliott’s coaching résumé also includes a strong five-year tenure at Siena, where he posted the best winning percentage in program history and was named 2012 MAAC Coach of the Year. His teams not only achieved milestones on the pitch but also excelled in the classroom, earning national academic honors.

As a player, Elliott ranks among the all-time greats in Kingston. He tallied 87 career points, led URI to two NCAA Tournament appearances, and was named MVP of the 2000 Atlantic 10 Tournament during a Sweet 16 run. His legacy as a Ram was cemented before he ever put on the headset as a coach.

Now in 2025, Elliott’s blend of player development, tactical leadership, and program-building continues to drive Rhode Island forward. With a proven ability to guide teams through adversity and raise the program’s national profile, his influence on college soccer extends well beyond Kingston.

Today, Inside the Game dives deeper into Elliott’s journey, his vision for the Rams, and what lies ahead in the Atlantic 10.