Mika Elovaara announced as new Boys ECNL Director

RICHMOND, VA (Via Boys ECNL) – As the inaugural season of the Boys Elite Clubs National League ends, and post-season play in the ENPL nears, the Boys ECNL is pleased to announce Mika Elovaara as the new Boys ECNL Director. Elovaara brings a wealth of experience to the organization and will provide day-to-day administrative and operational management.

After an extensive playing career in both NCAA D1 and overseas, Elovaara has coached both boys and girls, men and women, building championship teams and developing all-conference, youth national team and professional players.

A four-year letter winner and a two-year captain at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), Elovaara still ranks as the all-time leader in games started for the Seahawks. Following his 1999 graduation with a BA in English from UNCW, Elovaara played over 150 professional games back in Finland. Elovaara received his MA in English Philology from the University of Oulu in Finland in 2002 before completing work on a Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Studies there in 2007. He is a member of the United Soccer Coachaes and he holds the B license from both the US Soccer Federation and UEFA, as well as a UEFA Soccer Fitness, Strength and Conditioning Certificate.

“I cannot overstate my enthusiasm for becoming the Boys ECNL Director,” said Elovaara.  “Through its competitive platform, player development, and coaching education initiatives, the Boys ECNL can be transformative in making the game better for the boys who play and everyone else involved. Being in a leadership role facilitating development of the game is a welcome challenge and an honor, and I am looking forward to working with and serving our Boys ECNL member clubs as well as working with US Club Soccer and the ENPL.”

“We are very excited to welcome Mika into the league, and know that he will help continue to improve the league’s service to the clubs and continue to raise the quality of the experience for everyone,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers.  “We are looking forward to the upcoming ENPL Playoffs and to an even better 2018-19 Boys ECNL regular season.”