From 1993 to 2003, he served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Fairfield University.
[1] In 2005, he led the Rams to an 8–5–5 record, marking the school's first winning season since 1998.
His 2011 team, solidified by future MLS draft pick Ryan Meara in goal, won the Atlantic 10's regular season championship.
Using a 1–0 double overtime win in the final match day at Temple, Fordham secured the first seed in the conference tournament with four consecutive wins to close the regular season slate.
In 2014, McElderry brought the Rams to the NCAA Tournament with a blistering performance in the Atlantic 10 conference championships.