Ian Clerihew was hired by the University of St. Thomas to coach the men’s soccer team prior to the 2017 season. Clerihew joins the Celts after two seasons at Yale University as the first assistant coach for the men's soccer program.
After leading the Celts to a record of 17-15-4 as an NAIA member institution during his first two seasons, Clerihew guided the men’s soccer team into its transition into the NCAA’s Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in time for the 2019 season. Clerihew and the Celts exceeded expectations in one of Division III’s premier men’s soccer conference, going 10-6 and finishing in third place in SCAC play with a 6-2 conference record.
Clerihew’s team made a bold statement midway through the 2019 season when they edged perennial power Trinity 1-0 in San Antonio. It was only the sixth conference home loss for Trinity dating back to 1991.
For their second season in the SCAC, Clerihew and the Celts posted a 5-2-5 record and powered through their first-ever SCAC Conference Tournament, reaching the championship game. After this impressive season, UST Men's Soccer was ranked #9 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll.
Clerihew came to UST after spending two seasons as the top assistant coach for the Yale men’s soccer team. Prior to his stint at Yale, he spent three years as the head coach at Franklin Pierce University where he guided the Ravens to the 2012 NCAA Division II Tournament and three appearances in the Northeast 10 Tournament.
Clerihew served as the head coach at Mars Hill College from 2009-11 and guided the program to unprecedented heights during his three seasons, compiling a 35-19-6 record (.633). He led the 2011 team to the first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in program history, advancing to the round of 16 and finishing the season ranked 17th in the nation. His 2010 team was ranked 13th in the nation for a portion of the season, the highest national ranking in program history.
Clerihew served as an assistant coach at three Division I programs – Villanova (2008), Duke (2007) and St. Johns (2006). Both Duke and St. John's earned berths in the NCAA Tournament during his tenure, and he helped the Red Storm to a Big East championship. Clerihew's other collegiate coaching experience includes Northern Illinois, Akron and Linfield College. In his 19 years of college coaching, Clerihew's teams have posted 15 winning seasons and a combined record of 187-120-22.
Clerihew enjoyed an outstanding college career as a player for Seattle Pacific University from 1990-93. The team reached the Division II NCAA Tournament in each of his four years, including making three trips to the Final Four and winning the national championship in 1993.
He earned his undergraduate degree in marketing from Seattle Pacific and a master's degree in sport science from Akron. Ian and his wife Teresa have one daughter, Ava.
