Wendy Elles heads into her 14th season as the Saint Michael's women's soccer head coach in 2026, and 18th year as a college head coach. The Purple Knights set a school record for wins each of the past two years, reaching the cusp of qualifying for NCAA Championships borth seasons. Her 2025 squad set numerous school records en route to a 16-3-1 finish that featured the Purple and Gold's first postseason victory, first postseason home game in 36 years, and the its first All-America student-athlete.
Since 2001, Elles has been heavily involved with youth coaching in Vermont, including working with the Far Post Soccer Club since 2006. As a coach each year during that time, Elles guided her squads to 10 state crowns and US Youth Soccer regional tournaments. Previously the director of education for four years, Elles has been the director of coaching since 2008. Between 2001 and 2010, she was the head coach for Vermont's Olympic Development Program girls' team.
Elles has worked summer camps for Far Post, the University of Vermont, Gettysburg (Pa.) College, Millersville (Pa.) University, Girls of America Love Soccer (GOALS) in Blairstown, N.J., and Champ Soccer. Elles also developed and directed the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program in Vermont for five years, guiding an organization that works with youth athletes with disabilities.
During her career, Elles has earned coaching certification on three occasions. She garnered a United Soccer Coaches National Diploma in 2001, a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma a year later while passing with distinction, and qualified for her United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma in 2006.
A 1996 graduate of Gettysburg with a degree in sociology and a concentration in French, Elles earned her master's in interdisciplinary studies from Vermont in 2004. A 1995 United Soccer Coaches All-America selection and the Centennial Conference Player of the Year from the backfield, Elles was named all-region four times while helping the Bullets go 51-21 overall and 28-3 in the league. Gettysburg qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and 1994. Elles went on to play three years in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues' (USISL) W-League, and alternatively and often simultaneously played in and helped develop the Vermont Amateur Soccer League since 2001. In 2014, Elles was inducted into the North Branford (Conn.) High School Athletic Hall of Fame before being chosen for Gettysburg's Hall of Athletic Honor in 2017. Elles was chosen for the Centennial Conference's Silver Anniversary team in 2018.
Saint Michael's College Women's Soccer Head Coach, 2013-Present (14th Season)
- 1 NE10 Championship Semifinal Appearance (2025)
- 1 D2 CCA All-America Honor (Scarlett Brookes '28, 2025)
- 1 United Soccer Coaches All-America Honor (Scarlett Brookes '28, 2025)
- 1 D2 CCA East Region Player of the Year (Scarlett Brookes '28, 2025)
- 3 D2 CCA All-East Region Honors
- 4 United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Honors
- 19 NEWISA All-New England Honors
- 1 NE10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award (Scarlett Brookes '28, 2025)
- 1 NE10 Player of the Year (Scarlett Brookes '28, 2025)
- 1 NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year (Chloe Laizer '29, 2025)
- 1 NE10 Rookie of the Year (Sarah Gormley '28, 2024)
- 14 NE10 All-Conference Honors
- 9 NE10 All-Rookie Team Honors
- 23 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors
- 11 NE10 Academic All-Conference Honors
- 1 United Soccer Coaches Silver Medal for Team Ethics and Sportsmanship (2013)
- 8 United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- 2025: School record for wins (16), consecutive wins (8), points (146), goals (43, tied), assists (60), shutouts (13); first postseason win and first postseason home game since 1989; first All-America student-athlete; received votes toward national poll for four weeks
Vermont State University Lyndon Women's Soccer Head Coach, 2009-2012 (4 Seasons)
- 4 NAC All-Conference Honorees
- 1 United Soccer Coaches Gold Medal for Team Ethics (2012)
- 1 NAC Team Sportsmanship Award (2009)
- 2011: First NAC Tournament home game
Endicott (Massachusetts) College Women's Soccer Assistant Coach, 2005-2008 (4 Seasons)
- 67-17-5 overall, 46-3-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference records
- 4 NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- 3 CCC Tournament Titles (2005, 2006, 2007)
- 4 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Honorees
- 15 NEWISA All-New England Honorees
- 3 CCC Players of the Year
- 20 CCC All-Conference Honorees
- 29 CCC Academic All-Conference Qualifiers
- 2 United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards (2007, 2008)
University of Vermont Women's Soccer Assistant Coach, 1997-2003 (7 Seasons)
- 1 America East Championship Semifinal (1998)
- 1 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Honoree
- 1 NEWISA All-New England Honoree
- 18 America East All-Conference Honorees
Fairleigh Dickinson (New Jersey) University Florham Women's Soccer Assistant Coach, 1996 (1 Season)
- 1 MAC Freedom All-Conference Honoree
Fairleigh Dickinson (New Jersey) University Florham Women's Basketball Assistant Coach, 1996-97 (1 Season)
- 1 MAC Freedom All-Conference Honoree
