Patrick Elster was named Interim Head Women's Soccer Coach in the summer of 2026.
Elster initially joined the Concordia University Chicago women's soccer staff as the graduate assistant in the fall of 2025. He previously played in the Chicago Fire's MLS Next program before competing for four years at Earlham College, where he was a two-year captain and recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award. Elster holds his USSF coaching license while also coaching top ECNL-RL and NPL teams with Downers Grove Roadrunners, one of the premier youth clubs in the Chicagoland area.
Previously, Elster resided in Jacksonville, Fla. where he spent two years teaching English, coaching soccer, and serving as the Assistant Athletic Director at an under-resourced school. While teaching, Elster nearly doubled the number of students performing at grade level, emphasizing his leadership abilities.
Residing in Plainfield, Ill., Elster earned his bachelor's degree from Earlham College in 2023 and is currently working toward his master's in Sports Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.
