Ethan Fineman enters his second season as an assistant coach with Illinois State soccer in 2026.

In his first season working with the Redbirds' goalkeepers, Fineman made an immediate impact for Illinois State between the sticks. Under Fineman’s guidance, Redshirt Sophomore Madi Valenti recorded a record-breaking season in goal for Illinois State. Valenti was recognized as the 2025 MVC Goalkeeper of the Year to become the first Redbird since 2025 to receive the award. Valenti also secured the first All-MVC First Team selection of her career. In 2025, Valenti tallied a school and an MVC record of 12 shutouts in net for the Redbirds, a total that ranked as the third most in the nation.

Valenti added a save percentage of .853 with a career-best of 86 saves in 2025. The save total marked the seventh most saves in program history, and Valenti became the third Redbird in school history with at least 80 or more saves in two seasons.

Fineman joined the Redbirds after a one-year tenure at Heartland Community College, where he served as an assistant coach, working with the goalkeepers for both the men’s and women’s teams.  

During his tenure with the Hawks, the goalkeepers under Fineman’s guidance soared to new heights. On the men’s side, the Heartland goalkeepers recorded 63 saves and posted five shutouts, three more than the previous year, throughout the 2024 season. On the women’s side, the Hawks tallied 48 saves and 15 shutouts across 23 matches played in 2024. 

Fineman, a former goalkeeper at Illinois Wesleyan, played two seasons for the Titans before medically retiring in 2023. In his freshman campaign, Fineman appeared in nine games and recorded 26 saves, including nine in one game against North Central on Nov. 3.  

After missing the 2022 season due to injury, Fineman made an appearance in two games for Illinois Wesleyan and helped the Titans to their first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2023. Fineman was also an Academic All-CCIW honoree in his last year. 

A native of Highland Park, Ill., Fineman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business-Sports Management from Illinois Wesleyan University in May 2025.  

Fineman also holds a USC Level 2 Goalkeeping Diploma.