University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island Athletics
3 Keaney Road, Suite One Kingston, RI 02881

Division 1 Rhode Island Northeast

Public Large National competitor

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Gareth Elliott

Gareth Elliott enters his 11th season as head coach of the Rhode Island men's soccer program in 2023. The Belfast, Northern Ireland native has been a part of seven of URI’s eight Atlantic 10 Championships, winning two as a player (1999, 2000), two as head coach (2018, 2019) and three as an assistant coach (2003, 2005, 2006).

Elliott got his head coaching start at Siena (2008-12), before returning to Kingston to take over the URI program in 2013.

Through his first 10 seasons, Elliott has an overall record of 90-64-22, leaving him just 10 victories shy of 100 with the Rams. Only Ed Bradley (192 wins in 17 seasons) and Geza Henni (175 wins in 20 seasons) have more wins in program history. Since going 0-8 in Atlantic 10 play in his first season at the helm, Elliott is 39-21-9 in conference play, with a winning record in nine of the last 10 years. The lone exception was a 1-2-1 mark during the COVID-19 spring 2020 season.

After going 2-14 in his first season back at URI Elliott transformed 2013's last-place Rams into the nation's 21st-ranked team as well as the top-seed entering the 2014 A-10 championship. It marked the first time in the history of the conference that a team claimed the regular season title after going winless in the league the year before.

Prior to Rhody's remarkable 2014 turnaround, the Atlantic 10 had not seen a team post more than three conference victories in the year immediately following a winless A-10 campaign. Elliott's Rams shattered that record, going 7-1 in conference to claim the regular season title. Rhody also advanced to the Atlantic 10 title game, but fell to Fordham 1-0 to end the year at 13-5-3.

For his role in Rhode Island's success, Elliott was named the 2014 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. He also boasted the A-10's Rookie of the Year in freshman goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm, who collected a host of postseason accolades, including three different Freshman All-American awards.

That 2014 season sparked a run of six straight years where the Rams advanced to the semifinals of the A-10 Championship, including winning back-to-back Atlantic 10 titles in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, Rhode Island clinched the A-10's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by shutting out Fordham (2-0, quarterfinals), VCU (1-0, semifinals) and George Mason (2-0, championship game) in the league's postseason tournament. The following season Rhody defeated Davidson 7-3 in the semifinals abd played Fordham to a 0-0 draw in the semis before advancing to the finals with a nine-round shootout win. In the title game, URI knocked off Dayton, 1-0.

URI entered the 2019 NCAA Tournament ranked 16th in the nation by Soccer America poll, and 23rd by College Soccer News. In 2018, the Rams jumped in and out of the national rankings all season, but entered the NCAA Tournament ranked in all four national polls (21st-Top Drawer Soccer, 23rd-United Soccer Coaches, 23rd-Soccer America, 30th-College Soccer News).

Following the 2022 season, forward Patrick Agyemang was drafted 12th overall by Charlotte FC in the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, making him the highest draft pick in program history.

In five seasons at Siena, Elliott turned in the best winning percentage of any coach in program history as he guided the Saints to an overall record of 42-40-9 (.511) and a 24-14-5 (.616) mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). He also mentored the first three student-athletes in program history who went on to play professionally.

The 2012 MAAC Coach of the Year, Elliott guided Siena to a 6-1 conference record in 2012 - the Saints' highest ever winning percentage (.857) in league play. Siena also had four players named to the All-Conference squad - including 2012 Offensive Player of the Year Sindre Ek - as well as three All-Rookie selections. Additionally, captains Jannis Opalka and James Beeston were two of just 28 Division I student-athletes named to the NSCAA's Scholar All-America Team.

During his time in Loudonville, Elliott’s teams had tremendous success in the classroom. In 2012, Siena earned an NSCAA Team Academic Award after posting the 12th highest team GPA amongst all Division I program (3.38) and set a program record with 10 student-athletes being named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. Last year, Opalka became the first student-athlete in program history to be named one of just 30 candidates for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

In 2011, Elliott guided Siena to the program's first-ever wins over nationally-ranked opponents, defeating No. 15 Ohio State (1-0) and No. 16 Iona (1-0). That year, the Saint's defense finished the season ranked 34th in the country, allowing just 0.89 goals per game.

Siena's offense was the story in 2010 as the Saints scored a program-record 49 goals, ranking them fourth nationally. After beginning the season at 1-4, the Saints rebounded to go 9-4-1 over their final 14 games, including a 7-2 showing in the MAAC.

Additionally, Siena's Emory Welshman was awarded the 2010 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year award and five other players earned All-MAAC honors.

The Saints went 8-8-3 overall in 2009 and posted the program's first ever win over an ACC opponent (Boston College, 1-0). Elliott's recruiting also yielded three MAAC All-Rookie Team selections as well as the MAAC Rookie of the Year.

In his first year as a Division I head coach (2008), Elliott's Saints went 9-8-1 and won seven conference games - their most since joining the MAAC in 1989.

Prior to taking over the Saints' program, Elliott spent five seasons as an assistant at Rhode Island - three under URI Hall of Famer Ed Bradley and two under John O'Connor. During that period, URI captured three Atlantic 10 championship titles (2003, 2005, 2006) and made three NCAA tournament appearances.

Eleven different Rams that Elliott coached in that span also went on to play professionally: Perek Bellah, Sasha Gotsmanov, Simon Gatti, Dean Ruddy, Jeff Gonsalves, Callum Bissett, Danleigh Borman, Geoff Cameron, Adam Howarth, Lukasz Tumicz and Michael Tanke.

Elliott stands among the most successful student-athletes in Rhode Island soccer history. During his playing career (1998-2001), he led the Rams to two Atlantic 10 regular-season titles, two Atlantic 10 postseason championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He ranks seventh all-time at URI with 87 career points in 78 games played, is fourth overall in assists (25) and is ninth in goals (31).

An NSCAA All-Region selection and three-time A-10 All-Championship team honoree, Elliott was named MVP of the 2000 Atlantic 10 tournament before leading URI to NCAA Sweet 16.

Following graduation, Elliott played professionally for one season with the Ards Football Club of the Irish Premier League.

Elliott is married to the former Abby Thornbladh, who was a member of the Rhode Island volleyball team from 2001-04. The couple has two daughters, Chloe and Kelsie, and a son, Max.

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Tony Bassett

Tony Bassett will enter his ninth season with the Rams in 2022. After four years of being an assistant coach, Bassett was promoted to the role of Associate Head Coach in January of 2018.

Bassett immediately established his value to the program during his first season in Kingston, helping URI to a historic Atlantic 10 regular season title after going winless in the A-10 conference the season before. Since joining Coach Elliott’s staff in 2014, URI has gone 82-47-14 overall. Bassett has played an integral part in the team winning two Atlantic 10 Championships, two Atlantic 10 Regular Season titles, and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019.

Bassett has a hand in almost every aspect of the program under the mentorship of Coach Elliott, including domestic and international recruiting, budget management and fundraising, student-athlete welfare, academics, opposition scouting, equipment ordering, arranging team community service activities, and social media management. Together, Elliott and Bassett have established a rigorous program that prioritizes high academic performance and a strong team culture. In 2021, the team GPA was 3.56 and it consistently falls above a 3.00. In addition, Bassett’s dedication to the program resulted in a total of $35,000 in donations to the program on URI’s Day of Giving in 2019.

On the field, Bassett plays a crucial role in constructing both technical and tactical training sessions that focus on all aspects of player development. In eight seasons with the Rams, Bassett has helped recruit and mentor 22 Atlantic 10 All-Conference players, 19 All-Championship Team selections, 11 All-Rookie picks, 13 All-Academic performers and three A-10 Rookie of the Year award winners. Outside of the conference, URI has had nine NSCAA All-Region selections and two All-Americans since Bassett joined Elliott's staff.

The Rams’ high expectations for success - both on and off the field - have led three players to professional careers in the MLS and USL during Bassett's time in Kingston.

In the summer of 2015, Bassett earned his NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma to add to his long list of coaching certifications. He received his U.S. Soccer Federation "B" Coaching License in Rome, Ga in 2013, just one year after attending the Ajax Futbol Club Coaches Symposium in Amsterdam and earning his Ajax Youth Academy Coaching Certification. In 2011, he received his Advanced National Diploma from NSCAA after receiving his U.S. Soccer National "C" License in 2010. Bassett is also currently obtaining his Master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Florida.

Since coming to Rhode Island in 2014, Bassett has coached the 2002 boys team for Rams FC, leading them to win four state cups titles and five NSL league titles. Beginning Fall 2021, Bassett will be joining Rhode Island Surf Soccer Club to coach the 2006 boys.

Prior to joining the Rhode Island staff, Bassett spent two seasons as an assistant with the University of New Hampshire men's soccer program. In his final season at UNH (2013), the Wildcats finished 12-5-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the America East Tournament, but eventually fell to Hartford in penalty kicks. While at UNH, Bassett helped mentor four NSCAA All-Northeast Region Team players, six America East All-Conference selections, four All-Rookie players and three All-Academic picks, in addition to the 2013 America East Goalkeeper of the Year.

Bassett also worked with Seacoast United (Hampton, N.H.) both on the boys and girls sides. In 2012-13, he was heavily involved with the Junior Academy, as well as the U18 U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy team. In 2013-14, he was the head coach of the U16 Boys Premier team, as well as a U10 Girls Junior Academy group.

No stranger to the Atlantic 10 Conference, Bassett also spent three seasons as an assistant coach working under Sam Koch at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts. There, his responsibilities included organizing training sessions, scouting opponents, recruiting nationally and internationally, video editing, alumni relations, organizing and running youth camps and goalkeeper training.

During his tenure at UMass, Bassett coached three All-New England players, nine Atlantic 10 All-Conference selections and five Academic All-Conference student-athletes.

Bassett also has vast experience in coaching at both club and Olympic Development Program (ODP) levels. Working with Western United's Youth Developmental Academy right after graduation, Bassett moved on to FC Massachusetts in 2011-12 where he worked with the U-10, U-13, U-14 and U-15 New England Premier League boys teams.

A four-year member of the UMass men's soccer team, Bassett saw action in 61 games for the Minutemen - as both a central midfielder and a left back - from 2005-08. In 2006, the Minutemen were ranked as high as 22nd nationally. The following season, they captured the Atlantic 10 Championship and made a historic run to the College Cup in Cary, N.C. Massachusetts finished the 2007 campaign ranked fourth in the country. Despite battling injuries during his senior season (2008), Bassett moved to the left back position and helped lead UMass to the program's first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

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Frank Bergren

Frank Bergren, an assistant coach with the Rams, is longest tenured member of the Rams' staff, entering his 24th season in the fall of 2022. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1975 and completed his Master's of Science degree from URI in 1981.

A native of Westerly, R.I., Bergren was the varsity boy's soccer coach at North Kingstown High School from 1995-1998. He joined the Rams' staff under former URI boss Ed Bradley in 1999 and has been a part of the program ever since. In addition to his work with Rhody men's soccer, he also serves as the department head for Physical Education and Health at Westerly High School where he has worked for 29 years.

Coach Bergren's responsibilities include coordinating pre-game warm-up as well as overseeing post-game recovery of the players. In cooperation with strength and conditioning Coach Doug Stone, he also assists in designing and implementation of the year-round fitness program for the student-athletes. He also coordinates video taping and post-game editing of matches for team review in addition to working with players who may not be a part of the traveling party.

Bergren holds an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and is a United States Soccer Federation licensed coach. He has been a staff coach for the Rhode Island boy's Olympic Development Program and is a former assistant director of the Connecticut Soccer School.

Bergren resides in North Kingstown, R.I. in the village of Wickford, with his wife Wendy, son Skip and daughters Molly, a 2006 URI graduate and former URI women's soccer defender, and Emily who is a member of the Rhode Island class of 2008.