Entering his seventh year at the helm of the Kent State University soccer program, head coach Rob Marinaro has taken the Golden Flashes to the top of the Mid-American Conference.

A two-time MAC Coach of the Year, Marinaro has led Kent State to four straight MAC Tournament berths including two consecutive MAC regular season championships in 2003 and 2004 when the program recorded a combined 23-9-8 (.675) record. Most recently, under his guidance the Golden Flashes have made back-to-back appearances in the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament and reached the 2005 MAC Championship game before falling to Bowling Green in a penalty kick shootout. 

During Marinaro’s tenure, the program has seen 13 different student-athletes named to the Academic All-MAC team while eight different players have received All-MAC honors.

In 2004, Marinaro guided the Golden Flashes to an 11-4-5 mark, setting a school record for the fewest losses in a season. KSU earned a share of the MAC crown, jumping from fourth place into a tie for first in the season’s final weekend, earning Marinaro his second straight MAC Coach of the Year nod. The Golden Flashes climbed the conference standings in the second half of the season on the heels of a nine-game unbeaten streak. Marinaro also mentored the MAC Freshman of the Year, Kimberly Dimitroff, the first Kent State player to earn a conference specialty award, while also becoming the first player in program history to earn all-region honors.

The previous season, Marinaro guided Kent State to its best season in school history. The Golden Flashes earned their first MAC regular season championship and Marinaro was named the MAC Coach of the Year, the first time a Kent State mentor had been honored. The Golden Flashes posted a school-record 8-2-2 mark in MAC games and advanced to the MAC Tournament for the first time in Marinaro’s tenure as head coach.

Marinaro has become a household name at KSU after being on the bench as an assistant coach for the first four years of the youthful program. He was promoted to head coach Jan. 1, 2001, after Colleen Marcum left the profession. One of the key builders of the Kent State soccer foundation, Marinaro has developed this program into a perennial winner in the MAC.

As a collegiate head coach, Marinaro has led the Golden Flash squad to a 54-48-16 record overall. Kent State, which was poised on the verge of a breakthrough, exploded on the MAC scene in 2003. Marinaro’s charges posted a school-record 12-game unbeaten streak and a 10-game winning streak to go along with a MAC-record tying 11 shutouts.

“We have proven that we belong at the top of the Mid-American Conference,” said Marinaro. “Now we just need to determine what is needed to keep us at the top.”

In his first four years as an assistant, Marinaro helped the Golden Flashes to a 34-38-4 overall record, including an 8-8-1 mark in 2000, and three .500 or better seasons. His primary duties as an assistant included working with the goalkeepers and defense as well as scouting and recruiting.

Marinaro spent five seasons (1993-97) playing with various teams in the National Professional Soccer League, finishing his professional career with the Cleveland Crunch. He also played for the Harrisburg Heat, Buffalo Blizzard and Chicago Power. He was selected to the NPSL All-Rookie Team in 1994 and was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year honors as a member of the Power. Marinaro first played professionally with the Toronto Blizzard of the American Professional Soccer League from 1992-93.

In addition, Marinaro serves as a coach for the Ohio State North team for the Olympic Development Program and is a member of the ODP Region II staff. He also worked at the Cleveland Crunch Summer Camps in 1995, 96. Currently, he is the director of coaching for the Stow Soccer Club.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Marinaro received his master’s degree in sports administration from Kent State in the summer of 2001. He graduated from Clemson University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in language and international trade and was a member of the Tigers’ 1987 national championship team.

Marinaro currently holds a United States Soccer Federation National “B” Coaching License. 

He resides in Stow with his wife, Michele, and their son, Michael (7).

Year	School	      Position	    Record   MAC Record   MAC Finish	

2001    Kent State    Head Coach    6-11-0    5-7-0    10th    
2002    Kent State    Head Coach    6-10-2    3-6-0    12th    
2003    Kent State    Head Coach    12-5-3    8-2-2    T-First    
2004    Kent State    Head Coach    11-4-5    7-2-3    T-First    
2005    Kent State    Head Coach    9-8-5     5-4-2    T-Sixth
2006    Kent State    Head Coach    10-10-1   6-5-0    Sixth    
Head Coaching Totals (Six years)    54-48-16  34-26-7