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Oct. 13, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia men’s soccer head coach George Gelnovatch announced today he is not considering leaving UVa to pursue the head coaching position with the United States Under-17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. Following weeks of speculation that he might leave Virginia for the U-17s, Gelnovatch issued a statement to put rumors of his possible departure to rest.
“Recently there have been rumors and speculation circulating about me taking over the U-17 Team. I hoped these rumors would go away, but they have not. In fact, they have become a distraction to what we are trying to accomplish here at UVa,” said Gelnovatch.
“I have had no official conversations with any of the U.S. Soccer administration with regards to the job. My part time involvement with the U.S. National Teams, as always, is the decision of (former UVa head coach) Bruce Arena. I will remain involved with Coach Arena if and when he needs me. However, I am fully committed to the University of Virginia, my team and everything we are striving to accomplish here at UVa and I have no plans to go anywhere.”
Gelnovatch is in his ninth season as the head coach at Virginia. He has guided the Cavaliers to a record of 134-47-14 overall, 31-14-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Gelnovatch has led UVa to an NCAA Tournament appearance every year he has coached the Cavaliers and Virginia has advanced to the ACC Tournament’s championship match each of the last five seasons. In 1997, Gelnovatch directed UVa to an NCAA Tournament runner-up finish. Virginia has averaged 15 wins per season under Gelnovatch and has won two ACC Championship titles (2003 and 1997). Gelnovatch is the second winningest coach in UVa men’s soccer history and is only the second coach at Virginia to reach the 100-victory plateau.
Gelnovatch has coached 12 players at UVa who have gone on to play professionally in Major League Soccer (MLS), including two number one draft picks in the MLS SuperDraft in Alecko Eskandarian (2003) and Jason Moore (1999). Eskandarian won the 2002 Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy which is awarded to the top player in college soccer.
— UVa —