Women's Soccer - Meet the Coaches

The Principia:

Women's Soccer

Head Coach Lee Ellis

Lee.Ellis@principia.edu
2007 Records and Honors
Record: 15-4-0
SLIAC COACH OF THE YEAR
SLIAC Team Sportsmanship Award

In 2008 Coach Lee Ellis enters his 13th season at the helm of the Principia College women's soccer program, a member of the NCAA Division III and St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).

Since coming to Principia in 1996, Coach Ellis has posted a career record of 160-73-8, has won two SLIAC Championships (1997 and 2004), and has earned Coach of the Year honors in 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006 and 2007. In 2004 Ellis led the Panthers into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. For 12 consecutive years his teams have won the prestigious National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award. In 2007 the team GPA was 3.58/4.0, the eighth highest GPA in the nation (including NCAA men and women, DI, DII, DIII and NAIA). The team was also recognized for sportsmanship by a vote of players and coaches in the SLIAC Conference for the second consecutive year in 2007 and by the NSCAA (Silver Award, 2006, Gold Award, 2007).

During his Principia tenure, Coach Ellis has guided 32 different players to all-conference recognition a total of 70 times, including three conference Player of the Year winners (Nicole Gervais, 1997, 1998 and 2001; Christina Day, 2006 and Jennai Taylor, 2007), five conference Newcomer of the Year winners (Gervais, 1997, Lauren Gaster, 1998, Day, 2003, Jamie Furbush, 2005 and Hanna Mehring, 2007), and a national statistical leader (Taylor, 2007) in points per game average (3.2 ppg). In 2000 Principia led the nation in team offense tallying 101 goals in 20 games as Nicole Hayashi set a conference single season scoring mark with 31 goals, 19 assists for 81 points. The women’s soccer program also boosts the only two Principia College student-athlete inductees in the SLIAC Conference Hall of Fame; Gervais, Class of 2007 and Julie (Record) Holser, Class of 2008. (Holser enjoyed a stellar playing career from 1992 to 1995 under for former coach, Steve Morgenthaler.)

Coach Ellis’ prior experience includes developing the intercollegiate athletics program at the State University of New York College of Technology, Marcy, N.Y., where he also served at various times as head coach of the men's soccer, women's basketball, and women's softball teams. He also directed the men's soccer program at Utica College, Utica, N.Y.

A frequent participant at coaching clinics and in continuing education courses, Coach Ellis holds a Premier Coaching Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), and a "B" license from the United States Soccer Federation.

Coach Ellis chairs the SLIAC Women's Soccer Coaches Committee, has served on the NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee, and on the NCAA Central Region Women's Soccer Advisory Committee.

He has earned advanced degrees (Ed.S.; M.S.) in counseling psychology and student development and in business management (M.B.A.). Coach Ellis holds the rank of associate professor, is the Associate Athletic Director, and when not on the soccer pitch or in meetings, teaches a course in Leadership.

Assistant Coach Carole Griggs

Carole.Griggs@principia.edu - 618-374-5456

Carole grew up in the Chicago suburbs, playing soccer for Barrington High School and the Barrington Area Soccer Club. She went on to play for Eastern Illinois University on a Division I athletic scholarship, starting and playing in the midfield for 4 years. Following college, she moved to San Diego to pursue a Masters degree in Education and to play for San Diego’s semi-professional team, the San Diego Sea Lions. In recent years, she has enjoyed the competition and fun of playing on several indoor co-ed teams.

Prior to coming to Principia, Carole started and ran her own small Personal Training/Strength and Conditioning business, Empowering Fitness, utilizing her Corrective and High Performance Exercise Kinesiology Certification to coach individuals as well as small groups. She worked with competitive athletes, busy moms and dads, and also helped the elderly who were desiring to stay active and agile. Before opening Empowering Fitness, Carole was an 8^th grade teacher at a project-based charter school in San Diego, teaching integrated math and science for two years.

Glancing ahead, Coach Griggs is looking forward to completing her National Coaching License, as well as exploring opportunities for entering into a PhD program.

Assistant Coach Pat Fazio

Pat has been coaching high level select soccer teams since 1985. He is a positive and respected soccer coach with over twenty-one years experience with a proven background for developing players and teams. Pat is an excellent motivator, who has guided players to achieve a higher level of play, of which many have gone on to receive scholarships to play at various colleges around the nation. "Faz" has a pleasant communication style that encourages confidence in player’s abilities and drive to perform.

Pat has been a licensed coach since 1985, and was most recently coaching with the national power house JB Marine Soccer Club in St. Louis, MO.

Assistant Coach Matt Munhall

Email: Matt.Munhall@principia.edu

Office Phone: 618.374.5445

Matt Munhall is returning to Principia after graduating in 2007 to share his knowledge of goalkeeping and defense to both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. Matt had a successful soccer career as a three year starting goalkeeper and two year team captain for the Panthers. In 2005, Matt was selected by the team as Most Improved Player, and followed that the next two years by earning 1^st and 2^nd team SLIAC All-Conference team recognition and SLIAC All-Tournament player in 2007. Also in 2007, the Panthers made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament with a record of 17-2-1. This record helped Matt be selected to the 3^rd team All-Midwest to end his playing career with the Panthers.

Matt is excited to be back at Principia for another fall and is hoping that he can help both the men’s and women’s soccer programs become SLIAC champions in 2008.

Emma Sylvester

As the team Manager, Emma is a huge part of the day-in and day-out success of the Principia Women's Soccer progam. Her daily contributions are an integral part of the program, helping the players and coaches tremendously.

Emma played soccer for 8 years (5 yrs in AYSO, 2 yrs modified soccer, and 1 yr JV). She also had the opportunity to be a peer tutor in high school. Emma is currently a certified AYSO referee and is planning to become certified to referee High School as well. She is in the Equine and Animal Science Class at Madison-Oneida BOCES, which is a 2 year program and also in the National Technical Honor Society. Emma contributed and coordinated a school wide food drive raising much more then the original goal. In the summers, Emma enjoys being on the barn staff at Crystal Lake Camps, this summer being her 9th year attending.