June 10, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Northern Ireland native Ryan Elliot will join the Richmond field hockey program as an assistant coach for the 2008 season.

"I feel so fortunate to have developed a professional relationship with Ryan over the past several months," Richmond head coach Gina Lucido said. "His interest and excitement for the opportunity to contribute to Richmond's climb toward national prominence make him a key addition to our program."

Elliot was the head coach of the men and women's field hockey teams at Northumbria University, leading the women's first team to promotion into the Premier Section of the British University Sport Association National Hockey League.

He also coached the men's team to second place in the Division II British University Sports Association National Hockey League. He was the assistant coach to the County of Northumberland men's team which finished as National Runner Up in the English Senior County Championship Division. Elliott has also coached various youth teams since 2000.

Elliot graduated from the University of Northumbria with a Master's in marketing and his undergraduate degree in sports management at Northumbria. As a player at Northumbria, Elliot was the vice captain of his BUSA Division I team and is the university's all-time top goal scorer.

He was also a member of the Sullivan Upper School team, one of the top field hockey schools in Northern Ireland, along with the Bangor Hockey Club (Northern Ireland) and the Tynemouth Hockey Club (North England Division I).

"I am confident that Ryan's playing and coaching experiences will benefit the girls immediately and compliment our coaching staff in the best way," Lucido said.

"I am very excited with the opportunity I have been given to coach in a new culture, under such a dedicated and thoughtful coach as Gina," Elliott said. "I am particularly happy that it will be at such an excellent and successful university. The Spiders come highly recommended. I am very hopeful that I will be able to benefit the team with my ideas and experiences."