Men's Soccer Coaches

Mitch Ellisen - Head Men's Soccer Coach

email the coach

Mitch Ellisen returns for his tenth season at the helm of the USF men's soccer program in 2008, continuing to build the Cougars into one of the top teams in the region after a few  losing campaigns. Ellisen's Cougar's won their first Mid-Central Conference championship since 1977 in 2003 and reached the NAIA Region VIII Championship match for the first time in the program's history.

Under Ellisen, USF has played in two MCC Tournament Championships (2001 and 2002), is 35-20-3 in MCC regular-season competition and posted six-consecutive winning seasons in MCC play between 1999 and 2004. The Cougars also appeared in the NAIA Region VIII Final Four in three consecutive seasons (2001, 2002, 2003).

Other noteworthy accomplishments during Ellisen's eight-year tenure include a school-record 14-game winning streak to start the 2000 season, during which he acquired his 100th career win. He reached the 150-win plateau with a 3-2 win over Grace College in Bishop D'Arcy Stadium October 23, 2004. With 40 wins between 2000 and 2002, the Ellisen-led Cougars achieved the best three-season win total in USF history, eclipsing the previous best of 33 wins from 1975-1977.

Ellisen became the ninth head men's coach in school history, moving from Bangor, Maine, where he restructured and developed a successful program at Husson College. The Braves were 81-46-6 during Ellisen's seven-year stint, 16-4-1 in his final season in 1998. Husson advanced to the regional finals after upsetting 19th-ranked Houghton College. Husson qualified for the conference tournament every year under Ellisen, advanced to the title game three times and won in 1998. Ellisen was NAIA Northeast Region Coach-of-the-Year twice. He served on the Maine Olympic Development Program staff and was a staff coach at several camps, including the University of Maine Soccer Camps.

Active in several professional associations, Ellisen is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and is a past president of the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches Association. He holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "A" License and an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

Ellisen also is a fixture in the Fort Wayne soccer scene. He serves on the coaching committee for Fort Wayne Citadel FC and is coach of the club's '93 Boys Premier team. Each July, he directs the Goal 2 Goal Soccer Camp in association with Blackhawk Ministries.

During his playing career at the University of Charleston, Ellisen was a four-year starter. He earned all-conference honors in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a defender and midfielder.

Ellisen's family includes his wife Kari, and two children - Brandon and Melissa.

Pat Teagarden - Assistant Men's Soccer Coach

Pat Teagarden has been involved in the local Fort Wayne soccer scene for over 30 years and is excited to continue that involvement at the University of Saint Francis.  He has coached at all levels of soccer, but most of his work has been with Homestead High School.  Pat spent 14 seasons (1982 - 1994) at HHS with the boys program and nine years (1997 - 2006) coaching the women's side.  Pat has spent the last ten years working with U 13 - 17 travel teams.  Through high school and travel soccer Pat, has been involved with multiple conference champions, state finalists and state championship teams.  He has been recognized as a Conference, District, and State coach of the year.

Under Teagarden's guidance, HHS was 1993 Northern Indiana State Champion and Pat was named Coach of the Year. In 2001 the Lady Spartans were IHSAA State Runner-up.

Over the past six years, Pat has worked with the Indiana Youth Soccer Association where he has taught coaching education courses, worked on the State Coaching Committee, and worked with the 1987, 1989, and 1991 boys Olympic Development Program teams.  He is currently the 1995 ODP head coach.

Most recently, Pat has been selected as the Fort Wayne Sport Club's Director of Coaching where his duties will be in coaching education and team training.

Pat looks forward to working with Mitch Ellisen and the USF family. 

"I am excited about the Fall season.  USF is a special school.  I feel honored to have a chance to coach at (USF) and to work with such a fine individual as Mitch Ellisen.  I hope to continue the excellent USF tradition that dates back to my playing days at IPFW.  St. Francis always put a strong side on the field.  They were quality people who played a great game of soccer.  I am fortunate to still see several of the USF players that I competed against.  I hope to serve their legacy well."

Pat is married to Nancy.  They have four children and three grandchildren