Minnesota United today announced the hiring of John Pascarella as the Loons’ new goalkeeper coach. He will join Head Coach Adrian Heath’s staff for the 2018 Major League Soccer season.
Pascarella arrives at Minnesota from Des Moines Menace of the Premier Development League (PDL), where he has served as manager since January 2017. With the Menace, Pascarella was responsible for scouting, recruitment and leading coaching sessions, as well as coordinating with front-office staff for clinics, camps and other community outreach initiatives.
“I am extremely excited to be joining Minnesota United. It’s a club with huge ambitions and an outstanding technical staff and I am hoping both to provide additional experience and learn from theirs,” said Pascarella. “Watching them this year, it was obvious that they have a solid core of players and as we add to this group, I believe we can be an exciting and competitive team in MLS.”
Prior to his time in PDL, Pascarella spent eight seasons with Sporting Kansas City. Starting as a goalkeeper and fitness coach from 2009–2011, he then transitioned to become an assistant coach during an incredibly successful time in the franchise’s history; Pascarella helped guide Sporting KC to a club-record six-straight playoff appearances, including the 2013 MLS Cup championship and the 2012 and 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles.
Pascarella played professional soccer for nine seasons across the United States and Peru before beginning his coaching career as the goalkeeper coach at the University of Maryland in 1998. He also spent time with the Northern Virginia Royals of the PDL and the U.S. Olympic Development Program, also in Virginia.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science from Penn State University and holds a UEFA “A” License, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” License and NSCAA Premier Diploma among other coaching licenses.
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