How We Got Started

As a youth soccer coach in 2000, Michael Libber was looking for a way to help his U-12 team with the monetary costs of attending their first out of state tournament. He decided to put on a mini tournament for teams in his age group as a fund-raiser. Ten teams attended his first tournament, and the event was a great success for all teams involved; so much so that they asked him to organize another event. The following year’s tournament was even more successful with over 60 participating teams, and Libber found his calling –organizing and managing sporting events.

In the following years since Libber established the company, Elite Tournaments, it has organized over 80 youth soccer events for eight different clubs, colleges, international and professional organizations. Elite Tournaments has expanded to run 14 tournaments over the course of 17 weekends. Elite Tournaments organizes events primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region, but also assists with events throughout the US and overseas, including managing an international tournament in Bermuda for the Bermuda Football Association (BFA).

Elite Tournaments has based its company on the experiences that its staff had playing, coaching and managing at other events prior to joining the company. Every member of the Elite Tournament’s full time staff is a former high school and college soccer stand out, as well as a former collegiate coach and referee. Elite Tournaments prides itself on its organization and communication with the teams involved in the events, and thus creating relationships with the coaches and managers that last. Always interested in creating new relationships, Elite Tournaments will listen to any organizations’ questions, requests and proposals. If your organization is interested in Elite Tournaments, please email at info@elitetournaments.com.

Meet our staff:

Michael Libber, Founder / President

Mike Libber, founder and president of Elite Tournaments, was a standout high school and college player, earning the Baltimore Sun 1993 Player of the Year award while leading Archbishop Curley to the MSA championship (Now MIAA). He continued his playing career for UMBC from 1994-1996 and became Coach Pete Caringi’s assistant in 1999-2000. Libber’s coaching career continued as he worked in the Baltimore Bays organization from 1997 – 2004, winning two state championship and a Region I championship. He was at the helm for the Baltimore Bays' U-23 team that won the national championship in 2002 and national finalist in 2004. Libber was then brought on as the head varsity boys coach at Oakland Mills High School in 2005 and ’06. Libber holds a USSF National ‘C’ coaching license.

As well as being involved with Elite Tournaments, Libber still finds time to volunteer for the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association as the boys state cup director, is on the board of the Maryland Referee Committee and the NSCAA host committee. He has been on the local NSCAA host committee for 2000, 2005, 2008 and the upcoming event in 2011. He is currently working with the state of Maryland to help bring the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to the United States. Libber has refereed for the last 20 years and now can be found on field for both high school and college games. As a member of the Christos FC franchise, Libber has been a part of numerous champion Christos teams including the Over 30 Regional Finalists of both 2008 and 2009.

E-mail Mike at mlibber@elitetournaments.com.

Matt Libber, Director of Operations

Matt Libber has been onboard with Elite Tournaments since its inception. Having started in the second year, Matt has been a part of every event after the initial tournament. Matt brings not only sports background in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, but he also brings experience in project management to Elite Tournaments. Having run successful projects for many companies including the United States Postal Service, and the Maryland State Board of Elections, Matt provides project planning, risk management and general organizational expertise to the company. In addition, he also provides IT management and support for the organization.

Matt was a three sport athlete at Archbishop Curley High School and later went on to play lacrosse on the collegiate level at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). Matt later coached lacrosse at the high school level as well as several seasons of summer league club lacrosse. He also has 13 years experience as a soccer referee and was a referee assignor. Matt recently was named the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association 1st Vice President. With this new assignment he will take over the Maryland State Cup and Maryland President's Cup.

Contact Matt via email at matthew.libber@elitetournaments.com

Megan Schmidt, Director of Communications

Megan is the main point of contact for any customer service inquiries. Before joining Elite Tournaments full time, Schmidt has been highly involved with coaching soccer teams in southern Maryland where she has served a variety of roles. Most recently, she has been active assisting the youth Olympic Development Program for Maryland, among others. Megan was also a four-year starter for the women’s soccer program and played on the women's basketball team at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, graduating in 2005.

Megan obtained a masters degree in Recreation and Sport Sciences with a focus on Coaching Education from Ohio University in 2008. Returning to her Alma Mater, she became the assistant coach, helping to lead the St. Mary’s College Women’s Soccer Program to their first conference title in history. Schmidt holds a NSCAA National and Advance National Diplomas as well as the USSF National 'D" coaching license.

E-mail Megan at mschmidt@elitetournaments.com.

Mandy Libber, Chief Financial Officer

Mandy Libber, formerly Bishop, is Elite Tournaments' Chief Financial Manger. She has worked on every level within the soccer community. Mandy worked at the US Soccer Federation in both coaching education and events; the now defunct Carolina Courage, professional women’s soccer team; CASL of North Carolina and was the program administrator for the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association before joining the Elite Tournaments staff full time. Mandy also coached at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland for 5 years, a span in which Notre Dame won two Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference Championships and twice advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships. She has also worked with several club teams in her tenure of coaching, including 3 of the largest clubs in the nation.

As a player, she was a four-year letter-winner in soccer and lacrosse at St. Mary’s College of Maryland from 1997-2001. Mandy was a captain of both teams for the Seahawks and was a member of the 1999 and 2000 Capital Athletic Conference all -conference team. She played on three women’s lacrosse teams that advanced to the NCAA Division III, including two trips to the great 8 and one to the final 4. Mandy graduated from St. Mary’s in May 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Economics. She then attended North Carolina State University for a master’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with an Athletic Administration Minor from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Trevor Hanlon, Event Coordinator

Trevor Hanlon, one of our event coordinators and part time staff, has been working for Elite Tournaments since his start as a high school intern. Trevor is involved in all aspects of tournament preparation and running individual sites during the tournament. Trevor graduated from Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) in 2008 with bachelors’ degree in business. While working for Elite Tournaments, Trevor referees both youth and high school soccer games and teaches referee courses to several recreation councils in the Baltimore metro area.

Mailing Address: Elite Tournaments 401 Center Street Suite 205 Mount Airy, MD 21771
	Some of our dedicated staff after a long, cold day at the 2008 Baltimore College Showcase