COACHING STAFF

HOLLY HEIN

Title: Assistant Coach

Head coach Jennifer Klein added Holly Hein to the University of Michigan women's soccer staff as an assistant coach on July 10, 2023.

Hein returns to the Wolverines with a wealth of experience in both the youth and collegiate ranks and enters her third overall season as a member of the coaching staff. She will assist in all areas of the program, primarily focusing on the back line and defensive strategy, in-game team performance and post-game analysis, as well as individual player development.

In her first coaching stint at U-M, Hein served as a volunteer assistant in 2018 and 2019. The Wolverines advanced to the Big Ten Tournament in each season, including reaching the championship game in 2019. Hein’s last fall season with the team saw Michigan post a 17-6-1 overall record, finishing ranked No. 15 in the nation and winning two games in the NCAA Tournament before falling at No. 2 North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen.

After the conclusion of the 2019 season, Hein was named an assistant coach at Yale University and spent one season with the Bulldogs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She then returned to Michigan to work as the Director of College Recruiting and Talent Identification for the Michigan Jaguars FC Girls Academy teams. Following her playing career, Hein also coached with the Michigan Hawks ECNL program for four years.

Hein is heavily involved in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. She has helped lead teams in both the Midwest region and Michigan state programs since 2016.

On the field, Hein was a four-year letter winner for Michigan, playing from 2009-2013. She was a two-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region honoree, a two-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree, and was named team captain for her final two seasons.

Hein was also a 2013 Senior CLASS Award Finalist, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, a CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Five Second Team selection, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and a four-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement selection.

Following her collegiate career, Hein played professionally for the Houston Dash and Seattle Reign of the NWSL before finishing her professional career playing for Åland United of the Finnish Kansallinen Liiga (formerly Naisten Liiga).

Hein currently holds her United States Soccer Federation National “B” License. A native of Castaic, California, Hein now resides in Ann Arbor with her fiancé, Steven.

TORI CHRIST

Title: Assistant Coach

Tori Christ serves as an assistant and goalkeeper coach, as well as the program's recruiting coordinator. She joined the University of Michigan women's soccer program on May 24, 2022 following a three-year stint at Boston University, a two-year stint at Cornell University and four years of playing professionally.

At Michigan, she has been instrumental in the development of the Michigan goalkeepers. In the 2023 season, senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week twice in September. She totaled six clean sheets, a 1.12 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .810, while leading the nation in goals prevented per 90 minutes throughout the season. Christ also coached Izzy Nino in the 2022 season, guiding her to signing two professional contracts, one for the Newcastle Jets in the Australian A League and a recent contract with the Spokane Zephyr in the United States Super League. Christ also serves as the Recruiting Coordinator for the program.

Prior to Michigan, Christ was the goalkeeper and assistant coach at Boston University from the 2019 season to the 2021 season. At BU during the fall 2021 season, Christ helped guide a goalkeeping tandem that was top-three in the Patriot League in goals-against average (1.11) and shutouts (7), allowing more than one goal just once in league play. Gretchen Bennett was an All-Patriot League Tournament Team pick and went 7-1 on the season, totaling a 0.98 goals-against average (second in the Patriot League) and .783 save percentage across 20 games. Christ also helped freshman Celia Braun jump into the collegiate landscape and record a .735 save percentage while making 36 saves. BU captured the Patriot League Regular Season Championship in 2021 with an 11-6-3 record, advancing to the Championship Final.

In a shortened 2020 spring season, Christ aided Morgan Messner to earn her first All-Patriot League selection as she was named to the Second Team. Messner played every minute in net, fostering a .810 save percentage and 0.75 goals against average as the Terriers won the Patriot League North Division.  With Christ's guidance, Messner is now signed with the San Diego Wave in the NWSL after spending some time with the Chicago Red Stars.  In Christ's first season with the Terriers in 2019, Christ aided the goalkeeping unit to lead the Patriot League in saves per game (5.53) and saves (105).

At Cornell, under Christ's tutelage, Meghan Kennedy earned All-Ivy League honorable mention status for the second straight season after leading the league with 94 saves. It also marked the second straight season she topped the conference leaderboard in saves.

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Christ played professionally for four seasons -- two with the Boston Breakers (NWSL) in 2014 and 2025. She went overseas the next two years, aiding Västerås BK30 in Sweden to win the Widerlöv Cup in 2015 before playing one final season with Rovaniemen Palloseura in Finland in 2016.

Christ was a four year varsity student athlete at Cornell University from 2010-2014.  While competing for the Big Red, Christ served as a two-time captain and was the program's first three-time winner of the Randy May Coaches' Award. The honor is given to the player who best demonstrates the spirit and dedication to Cornell soccer shown by Randy May, the first head coach of the program. She also won the Inspirational Player Award in 2014.  In 2012, Christ led the Ivy League with 88 saves, which ranks 11th in Cornell's single-season record book.

Christ graduated from Cornell in 2014 with a degree in psychology. She attended high school at Nardin Academy, becoming the youngest alumni to be inducted upon graduation in the Athletics Hall of Fame when she was a part of the Class of 2021.  Christ was also named a United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 in the 2021-2022 class, which highlights coaches who are leading the way in developing soccer players and enhancing the game.

BRIAN DUNLEAVY

Title: Assistant Coach

Brian Dunleavy joined the Wolverines in the role of assistant coach prior to the start of the 2024 season.

Dunleavy spent the previous five seasons with Mississippi State University, as an Assistant Coach. Prior to his time in Starkville, he was the head coach at Georgia Southern University for six seasons (2013-18).

At Mississippi State, Dunleavy was responsible for the defensive side of the ball and scouting of future opponents. The 2023 Bulldogs went 12-6-5 overall, allowing only .70 goals/match, with 11 shutouts. The program made a historic run to the NCAA Sweet 16, the 2023 season concluded with the Bulldogs ranked 14th in the nation. For their efforts, the Mississippi State Coaches were awarded United Soccer Coaches Southeast Regional Staff of the Year.

In 2022, Dunleavy's defense finished with the most shutouts in a season (10) in school history. The defense also only allowed 9.7 shots per game this season. The 2022 season also marked the program record in goals-against-average in SEC play, finishing the year with a 0.95 GAA. The Bulldogs went to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2021, the defense recorded four shutouts throughout the season, including one in conference play. Dunleavy's defense helped hold opponents to fewer shot attempts and fewer shots on goal than Mississippi State throughout the season. The solid defensive efforts helped the Bulldogs post an impressive 1.19 goals against average despite a rigorous non-conference and SEC schedule.

In addition to organizing and preparing detailed scouting reports for upcoming opponents, Dunleavy also assists in helping create the non-conference schedule. In 2022 he helped Mississippi State reach its second NCAA tournament while finishing the season with an RPI of 33.

During his tenure at Georgia Southern, the Eagles won 41 matches, making him the second-winningest head coach in program history. Dunleavy led the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals in 2014 and 2017 and was an assistant when GSU won the Southern Conference tournament in 2012.

His 2014 squad posted the program's best record and highest conference finish since 2002, going 11-6-2 and finishing third. That season, Dunleavy also guided the Eagles to their highest standing in the final RPI at that time, while two players earned first-team all-conference honors and one made the league's second team.

As a head coach, Dunleavy oversaw teams that earned five all-conference selections and four NCSAA/United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. Before being promoted in 2013, he spent two seasons as an assistant for the Eagles.

In that time, the Eagles made their first conference tournament appearance since 2007, won their first conference title, made their first NCAA Tournament appearance and posted their first winning season since 2002.

Dunleavy spent two years coaching at Division II Saint Leo University in Dade City, Florida, where he worked with the men's soccer program. Dunleavy was responsible for opponent scouting and the team's conditioning program. While at Saint Leo, the Lions posted a 15-15 overall record.

Before his time with Saint Leo, Dunleavy was the head men's soccer coach at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an NCAA Division III institution in the Bronx, New York, where he spent a year directing the Dolphins.

Dunleavy enjoyed a four-year playing career at Hofstra University (1999-02). Following his playing career, he joined the staff at his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003. He helped the program win back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Championships, which garnered NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005.

He holds an NSCAA National Coaching Diploma and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature from Hofstra University.

Originally from Levittown, N.Y., he is married to his wife, Janine, and has two sons, Owen and Cole, and a daughter, Mara.

ELIZABETH LINKOUS

Title: Camp Administrator

Elizabeth Linkous was named Director of Operations for Michigan Women's Soccer in February 2024.  As Director of Operations she is responsible for managing multiple phases of the program including administrative tasks, team travel logistics, and special projects. Linkous has served as the Michigan Women's Soccer Camp Administrator since 2021.  In that role she handles all aspects of camp registration and is the first point of contact for campers and their families.

Linkous brings a wealth of college athletics, camp, and university knowledge to the Michigan Women’s Soccer program.  She got her start in college athletics as an undergrad, working as an Operations Intern for the University of Notre Dame Women's Basketball team. Upon graduation, she worked in the Notre Dame Summer Sports Camps Office and then as an Assistant Basketball Coach at NCAA Division III Earlham College.

After completing graduate school, Linkous did a two year stint as  Basketball Operations Assistant for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and then  served four seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations for the UNLV Women's Basketball team. Linkous then transitioned into athletic academic advising at UNLV, which parlayed into several academic advising roles at both Washington State University and the University of Southern California.

Linkous earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana where she played basketball for four years.  She also holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Sport Management, from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.