University of Portland athletic director Scott Leykam promoted associate head coach Tina Frimpong Ellertson to lead the women’s soccer program on Monday, November 10, 2026, succeeding Michelle French after her departure for family reasons, portlandpilots.com reported.
- Program Stability: Internal promotion of the associate head coach secures tactical continuity for a roster coming off a 10-3-6 campaign.
Michelle French stepped away after nine seasons at the helm, finishing with a 76-53-29 overall record, according to portlandpilots.com. Her tenure featured a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 alongside the program’s strongest West Coast Conference showing in over a decade during the 2025 season. French pointed to Ellertson’s fierce competitiveness as a reason for the transition.
“When Frenchie shared her decision to step away, Tina was the clear choice to lead our program,” Leykam said, as reported by portlandpilots.com. Ellertson first arrived on The Bluff as an assistant coach in 2023 before earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2024.
| Metric / Milestone |
Details |
| 2025 Record |
10-3-6 overall, 7-1-3 WCC |
| Previous Coach Tenureship |
9 seasons (Michelle French) |
| Ellertson USWNT Caps |
35 international appearances |
| Halls of Fame |
UW Husky (2010), Pac-12 (2022) |
Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Ellertson built a decorated playing résumé across collegiate, professional, and international levels. The Columbian noted that the Hudson’s Bay High School graduate takes over her first collegiate head coaching job after years of preparation.
At the international level, Ellertson earned 35 caps for the U.S. Women’s National Team, featuring in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup as both a defender and forward. She concluded her professional playing career by helping the Portland Thorns capture the inaugural 2013 NWSL Championship, according to portlandpilots.com.
Beyond her playing career, Ellertson spent over a decade working inside the U.S. Soccer ecosystem as a Youth National Team staff coach and talent identification scout from 2016 to 2023.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the University of Portland women’s soccer program,” Ellertson said, as reported by portlandpilots.com. “I understand the responsibility that comes with leading a program that means so much to so many people.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Frenchie for her leadership, mentorship and belief in me. Working alongside her has been a great privilege, and I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow under her guidance.”
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