Charlotte private school fires coach after arrest alleging misconduct with former student

A woman is accusing her former cross country coach and substitute teacher at Charlotte Country Day School of trying to have sex with her when she was a student and hiding their relationship using WhatsApp, an arrest affidavit said.

Matthew Philip Elliott, 39, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a student, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a press release .

CMPD said the woman went to the police on Nov. 8 alleging Elliott flirted with her and "made numerous advances" while she was a student at the school, and that they had been in an inappropriate relationship.

The woman told police Elliott was her cross country coach and substitute teacher while she was a student at the school, an arrest affidavit said. She alleged the incidents happened in late January and late February of this year.

She alleged that Elliott kissed her on two different occasions while she was a student, exposed himself to her, and tried to have sex with her.

According to the affidavit, the woman provided phone call records that showed she and Elliott spoke regularly during this time "at all times of the day and night."

In October, the woman and Elliott exchanged text messages, the affidavit said, in which he allegedly wished her happy birthday and told her he was still "in love" with her.

"The school also confirmed that it was reported to them in 2023 that the suspect was having an inappropriate relationship with a different student," the affidavit said.

Elliott was fired following his arrest and barred from the upper and lower school campuses, David Mancos, interim head of the school, said in a letter to parents on Thursday.

"We have not received other reports of misconduct about Mr. Elliott from other alums or current students," Mancos said.

However, he encouraged people to reach out to police if they have information.

Mancos said in the letter that Elliott had been employed at the school since 2015, first as a coach, and then as a substitute teacher at the middle and upper schools. He said the inappropriate relationship happened "within the last few years."

"Promptly after learning of the allegations, I followed the school's existing protocols, which included placing Mr. Elliott on administrative leave and contacting law enforcement," Mancos said in the letter. "The school is cooperating fully with law enforcement."

He said counselors would be available to speak with students on Thursday.

Court records show Elliott posted a $10,000 secured bond on Wednesday.