Elie Monteiro ’97 was named the third head coach in SNHU women's soccer program history on April 29, 2014.  He returned to his alma mater after 12 successful seasons as head women's soccer coach at former Northeast-10 rival UMass Lowell.

“It is difficult to me to overstate how excited I am to be coming back to Southern New Hampshire University.  I fell in love with the campus, the people, and the city of Manchester as a student-athlete and always dreamed of coming back someday,” said Monteiro upon his hiring.  “It was a very difficult decision to leave UMass Lowell but SNHU has always held a special place in my heart.  My family and I live in the area so we’re thrilled to be given this opportunity.”

In Monteiro's first season, playing with a small roster, the Penmen posted wins over regionally-ranked foes Stonehill and Franklin Pierce, with the win over the Ravens Monteiro's 100th victory as a collegiate coach.

In 12 seasons at UMass Lowell, Monteiro built the River Hawks into a perennial contender in the Northeast-10 Conference, while in his final season (2013) he guided UML’s transition to the Division I ranks and the America East Conference.  Between 2005 and 2011, UML made five NCAA appearances, culminating in an 11-6-4 mark and an appearance in the East Region title game in 2011.  Over UMass Lowell’s final eight years as a member of the NE-10, Monteiro compiled a 78-54-23 (.577) mark, and in 12 seasons as a head coach, he stands 100-110-32.  A two-time NE-10 Coach of the Year, Monteiro was honored in 2005 and again in 2009.

Over his 12 seasons with the River Hawks, Monteiro coached three All-Americans, 37 Northeast-10 All-Conference selections, seven NE-10 All-Rookie Team selections, two Goalkeeper of the Year winners, one Rookie of the Year and one Defensive Player of the Year.  In 2008 and 2011, the women’s soccer program won the Griffin Award as the River Hawk women’s program with the highest GPA.

The first full-time head coach in River Hawk women’s soccer history, Monteiro was an assistant with the men’s and women’s programs at UML from 2000-01 before taking over the reins of the women’s team.  He started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the women’s program at Franklin Pierce University from 1997-99, helping guide the Ravens to a pair of Division II national championships.

A two-year standout for then-New Hampshire College in 1994 and 1995, Monteiro helped the Penmen to a 30-6-2 record and an NCAA appearance in 1995.  He received his degree in Sport Management.  Previously, he played two seasons at Massasoit Community College where he was an All-Region performer.

Monteiro also enjoyed a six-year professional career as a starting defender for the Phantoms of New Hampshire, helping the team to a record of 102-60-6.  He was a two-time USL All-Tournament Team selection.  Later, he would coach the Lady Phantoms of New Hampshire from 2003-05.

Born in Dakar, Senegal and raised in Brockton, Mass., Monteiro currently resides in Manchester with wife Claudine, daughter Isabella Rose, and sons Sebastian and Oliver.