Rob Marinaro
Encyclopedia
Rob Marinaro is a retired Canadian soccer goalkeeper
who currently coaches the Kent State University
women’s soccer team. He spent five seasons in the National Professional Soccer League
, grew up playing soccer under the tutelage of his father. Marinaro attended Clemson University
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1987 to 1992. He was part of the Clemson team which won the 1987 NCAA championship
. He graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in language and international trade. The Cleveland Crunch
of the indoor Major Soccer League
drafted Marinaro in the fourth round of the 1992 Amateur Draft. However, he never played for the Crunch as they traded him to the Chicago Power
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). In the summer of 1993, Marinaro played one game with the Toronto Blizzard
of the American Professional Soccer League
. He then joined the Power for the 1993-1994 season, being named to the All-Rookie Team and finishing as runner up for Rookie of the Year. In 1994, he moved to the Buffalo Blizzard
for two seasons. While he saw time in twenty games in 1994-1995, he played only five games before being traded to the Harrisburg Heat
. He played seven games to finish out the 1995-1996 season. He moved to the Cleveland Crunch
for the 1996-1997 season, signing a three year contract, along with his brother, on September 30, 1996. He played only one season, announcing his retirement on July 27, 1997.
He continues to play at a semi-professional level with the Cleveland Legends indoor team in the National Soccer League.
as an assistant coach with the women’s soccer team. On January 2, 2001, he became the head coach, replacing Colleen Marcum. He is a two time Mid-American Conference
coach of the year (2003 and 2004). In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Marinaro has coaches in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and is the director of coaching for the Stow Soccer Club.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who currently coaches the Kent State University
Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State University's intercollegiate athletic teams are known as the Golden Flashes or simply as the Flashes. The university fields sixteen varsity athletic teams, all of whom play in the Mid-American Conference and in the NCAA's Division I...
women’s soccer team. He spent five seasons in the National Professional Soccer League
Player
Marinaro, son of Hector Marinaro, Sr. and brother of Hector MarinaroHector Marinaro
Hector Luis Marinaro is the all-time leader in points and goals in professional indoor soccer. He is currently the men's soccer coach at John Carroll University.-Youth:...
, grew up playing soccer under the tutelage of his father. Marinaro attended Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1987 to 1992. He was part of the Clemson team which won the 1987 NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. He graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in language and international trade. The Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the indoor Major Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
drafted Marinaro in the fourth round of the 1992 Amateur Draft. However, he never played for the Crunch as they traded him to the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). In the summer of 1993, Marinaro played one game with the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (1986-1993)
-National Soccer League:In 1985, less than one year after the Toronto Blizzard ceased operations due to the failure of the North American Soccer League , Blizzard owners York-Hanover purchased Dynamo Latino of the semi-professional Ontario-based National Soccer League with the intention of...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He then joined the Power for the 1993-1994 season, being named to the All-Rookie Team and finishing as runner up for Rookie of the Year. In 1994, he moved to the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
for two seasons. While he saw time in twenty games in 1994-1995, he played only five games before being traded to the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
. He played seven games to finish out the 1995-1996 season. He moved to the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
for the 1996-1997 season, signing a three year contract, along with his brother, on September 30, 1996. He played only one season, announcing his retirement on July 27, 1997.
He continues to play at a semi-professional level with the Cleveland Legends indoor team in the National Soccer League.
Coaching
Marinaro began coaching at summer camps in 1995 and 1996. After his retirement from professional soccer, he was hired by Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
as an assistant coach with the women’s soccer team. On January 2, 2001, he became the head coach, replacing Colleen Marcum. He is a two time Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
coach of the year (2003 and 2004). In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Marinaro has coaches in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and is the director of coaching for the Stow Soccer Club.