Former coach appears in court after accusations of a relationship with student

Matthew Elliot, 39, a coach at Charlotte Country Day School, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, faced a Mecklenburg County judge Thursday.

The victim told investigators on Friday that the relationship happened in January and February when she was a student at the private school on Carmel Road and ran on its cross-country team. Elliot was her coach at the time.

The victim told police Elliot, “kissed her on two different occasions” and “tried to have sex with her” and showed his private parts to her, according to a court affidavit.

The victim told police Elliott asked her to only “communicate via WhatsApp to hide their relationship,” the document stated.

Elliot allegedly texted her last month to say he was “in love with the victim.”

After police started investigating, he was arrested Wednesday at his home.

Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz was at the courthouse Thursday to ask Elliot about what happened as he walked out of his hearing.

“Did you kiss this victim? Did you try to have sex with this victim as she alleges?” Sáenz asked.

“I don’t have any comments at this time,” Elliot said.

Channel 9 learned Elliott is well-known in the running world. He was on the cover of “Runner’s World” magazine in 2014 with articles stating he was training to be on the U.S. Olympic track team at the 2016 games.

Elliot faces two felony charges of indecent liberties with a student.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit is in charge of the case.

In the letter to parents and alumni, the interim head of the school said:

“Dear Charlotte Country Day School Community,

“In light of this morning’s message, I want to follow up and reassure you that we are fully committed to being here for you and your children.

“We recognize that this incident brings with it many emotions—for our students, for our parents, for our alumni community, and for our faculty and staff. We have been taking measures to ensure our faculty, staff, and students feel supported and know that they can turn to our counselors and others for support. As an immediate response, we have particularly focused on meeting with those within our community most directly impacted by this situation and will continue efforts in the days ahead.

“As expected, local news outlets are covering this story. To minimize misinformation, here is what you need to know:

• We developed the community message that was sent to you this morning. It was also shared with the media upon request.
• I want to reaffirm the accuracy of my letter from this morning and let you know that prior to this circumstance, Country Day was not aware of any evidence or allegations that Mr. Elliott was involved in any sexual conduct with any student at the school.
• We are closely monitoring local news coverage. Please understand that news articles may lack nuance and full context. With the ongoing police investigation and privacy concerns, full details cannot be shared.
• Please know that we are working closely with CMPD throughout this situation.
• Also, in an effort to ensure that media did not enter campus this morning, our security team was stationed at the entrances, including the student lot, to verify that only Country Day community members entered campus.
• Reporters may be reaching out to students and alumni via social media. Reassure your child that they are not obligated to respond because the school is handling the media.

“Incidents such as these can be unsettling for our students. We want to help provide you with tools to discuss your child’s concerns, answer questions, and allay undue alarm. The counselors have compiled a list of tips and resources to help you navigate discussions that may arise at home.

“One of the most valued qualities of school life at Country Day is the sense of community it creates for us and for our children. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, your division head, or our counselors.

“Respectfully, David Mancos, Interim Head of School”

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has him in custody. A judge will likely hear his case on Thursday.

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