Elliot Goodwin joins the Men's Soccer Coaching Staff as a volunteer assistant for the 2025 season. In his first season as a volunteer, Goodwin helped the Lions to an overall record of 14-3-4 and captured Lindenwood's first regular season and postseason championships in the Division I era. The 14 wins ranked tied for third in the country and was the most wins in a single season for Lindenwood since 2013 when they won 18 games as members of the MIAA at the Division II level. The 2025 season marked the first time since 2013 that the Lions have won an outright regular season championship after winning back-to-back regular season titles in 2012 and 2013. LU also became the first team in Lindenwood’s school history to make an NCAA Division I National Tournament after defeating Houston Christian in the OVC Championship Game via Penalty Kicks 4-2. The Lions went on to face Kansas City in the first round of the NCAA Tournament where they fell by a score of 1-0.
Lindenwood had 133 points offensively in 2025, their most in a single season since 2016 (147). Midfielder Matteo Landais finished the season tied for sixth in the country in total assists with nine. The 133 points ranked 11th best in the country. Goodwin also coached seven different players from the 2025 squad that were named to the OVC All-Conference teams. Leandro Haesler, Luca Bartoni, and Matteo Landais were named to the All-OVC First Team, while Gavin Roberts and Ethan Blake were named to the All-OVC Second Team. Haelser and Bartoni were also included on the 2025 All-OVC Newcomer Team along with Alander Soares and Gavin Csiszar. Bartoni and Haesler were named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Forward and Defender of the Year. Bartoni scored two goals and led the league in assists with four during conference play, while Haesler ranked first among defenders in the OVC with 10 total points on the season, and anchored a defense that recorded 12 shutouts during the 2025 campaign.
The Lions ranked tied for third in all of the NCAA in 2025 with 12 total shutouts, trailing only Princeton (13) and NC State (14). Their 12 shutouts is the most by any OVC team in the history of the league. They also ranked tied for fourth in the NCAA in goal differential with a +31. LU averaged two goals per game while allowing 0.52 goals per game in 2025. Lindenwood received votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll in back-to-back weeks on September 9 (3 votes) and 16 (1 vote). This marks the first time that Lindenwood has appeared in the National polls and received votes for Men's soccer since the start of the Division I era. LU ranked in the top 10 of the North Region in the United Soccer Coaches Poll all season long in 2025 with their highest ranking being 4th. They held the number four spot for four weeks in a row from September 9-30.
Goodwin was the head coach at Missouri Military Academy from 2021-2024 where he led the program to a 44-27-2 record. In 2024, Missouri Military Academy was the Class 1 District 3 Champions and were finalists in the 2024 Class 1 State Championship. Elliot was also named the Class 1 Coach of the Year by the Missouri Soccer Association.
Prior to Missouri Military Academy, Goodwin was a three year assistant coach at McKendree University working with the Women’s Soccer Program, helping them to an overall record of 43-11-5 as well winning the GLVC Regular Season title in 2018, 2019 and 2020/21. McKendree won the GLVC Tournament championship in 2020 and 2021, and the McKendree coaching staff was recognized as Midwest Regional Staff of the Year for Division II Institutions in 2021.
“I was fortunate to get to know Elliot many years ago. What was really telling about him was his desire to learn and wanting to better himself as a coach. In the years since, Elliot has proven to make every program he works with better. We look forward to Elliot helping our program continue to rise amongst the best in college soccer.” said head coach Kris Bertsch
Elliot also has experience playing with Nashville FC (now Nashville SC of MLS), St. Louis Football Club U23 (PDL), and was a three year Captain of AFC Columbia. Goodwin has also spent time at Saint Louis Scott Gallagher coaching youth technical development sessions, as well as serving as the U17 Illinois ECNL Head Coach in 2021.
Goodwin graduated from Cumberland University in 2017 where he was a first-team All Mid-South Conference selection during his Junior and Senior seasons and was a Second-team All-MSC selection during his Sophomore season. He is currently pursuing a US Soccer B License.
