George Gelnovatch (born February 12, 1965) is the men's soccer coach at the University of Virginia. He played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. As head coach, he has led Virginia men's soccer to the College Cup Final Four in 1997, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2019. Under his leadership, Virginia won its sixth and seventh NCAA National Championships of the sport in 2009 and 2014.Virginia wins 7th NCAA Championship in shootout versus UCLA , accessed December 14, 2014
Player Gelnovatch grew up in Wall Township, New Jersey and played soccer at Wall High School, where he was part of three state champion teams.Giase Frank. "Virginia men's soccer coach George Gelnovatch withdraws from consideration for vacant Rutgers job", The Star-Ledger, January 14, 2010. Accessed January 29, 2011. "Gelnovatch, who won three state championships as a player at Wall High School, interviewed for the Rutgers position with athletic director Tim Pernetti two weeks ago." He attended the University of Virginia, playing on the men's soccer team from 1983 to 1986. He was a 1986 First Team All American. He ranks fifth on the school's all time lists for points (118) and goals (49). During his career, the Cavaliers went 67–14–4. In 1986, he earned first team all-ACC and first team all-American honors. In 1987, the Minnesota Strikers selected Gelnovatch in the fourth round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft.In League's 10th Season, a First: Teams That Finished Are Back He spent one season with Minnesota. In 1988, he moved to the New Jersey Eagles of the American Soccer League.1988 New Jersey Eagles In 1990, Gelnovatch joined the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the American Professional Soccer League.1990 Penn-Jersey Spirit He was a first team All League defender that season. In April 1991, Gelnovatch moved to the Maryland Bays.1991 Maryland Bays In 1996, he played a handful of games for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.
Coach In 1989, Gelnovatch served as a part-time assistant coach under Bruce Arena with the Virginia Cavaliers. In 1995, he became a full-time assistant at Virginia. On January 3, 1996, Gelnovatch replaced Arena as head coach. He is most notable for leading the Cavaliers to the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship where the Cavaliers won a penalty shoot-out against Akron. His teams have reached the NCAA tournament every year he's coached, except 2021. He has led the Cavaliers to three NCAA college cup appearances, four Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles, and two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles. In September 1999, Arena appointed Gelnovatch as the head coach of the United States U-18 men's national soccer team.Arena Appoints Four U.S. Youth National Team Head Coaches In 1999 and 2002, he also served as an assistant coach with the United States men's national soccer team.
Head coaching record + Season College Won Lost TiedNotes 1996 Virginia 16 3 3 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA 1st Round 1997 Virginia 19 4 3 ACC Tournament Champions;NCAA Runner Up 1998 Virginia 16 4 3 NCAA Elite Eight 1999 Virginia 14 9 1 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Elite Eight 2000 Virginia 17 6 1 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Elite Eight 2001 Virginia 17 2 1 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Second Round 2002 Virginia 15 7 0 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Second Round 2003 Virginia 11 10 2 ACC Tournament Champions; NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2004 Virginia 18 5 1 ACC Tournament Champions; NCAA Elite Eight 2005 Virginia 12 5 3 NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2006 Virginia 17 4 1 NCAA Final Four 2007 Virginia 12 8 2 NCAA Second Round 2008 Virginia 11 9 1 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Second Round 2009 Virginia 19 3 3 ACC Tournament Champions NCAA Champions 2010 Virginia 11 6 3 NCAA First Round 2011 Virginia 12 8 1 NCAA First Round 2012 Virginia 10 7 4 NCAA Second Round 2013 Virginia 13 6 5 ACC Tournament Runner-Up NCAA Final Four 2014 Virginia 14 6 3 NCAA Champions 2015 Virginia 10 5 3 NCAA Second Round 2016 Virginia 10 3 5 NCAA Third Round 2017 Virginia 13 4 5 NCAA Second Round 2018 Virginia 10 4 3 NCAA Third Round2019Virginia2121ACC Tournament Champions NCAA Runner-Up2020Virginia781 ACC Tournament Semifinals 2021 Virginia 6 9 3 ACC Tournament First Round 2022 Virginia 10 4 5 ACC Tournament Semifinals NCAA Tournament Second Round 2023 Virginia 11 4 4 ACC Tournament Quarterfinals NCAA Tournament Third Round 2024 Virginia 11 7 3 ACC Tournament Semifinals NCAA Tournament Third RoundOverall 377 154 71 27 NCAA Appearances
References
External links Virginia prolife MISL: George Gelnovatch