Minnesota United announced today new coaching and technical staff hires for the MNUFC Academy: Tom Harris and Tomaz Marinelli both recently joined the Youth Development Program at the front end of the 2023-2024 MLS NEXT competition season.
“Tom Harris adds a lot of experience to our Academy staff. But more than that, I’m excited for his ability to innovate and collaborate to make our athletes the best versions of themselves on and off the field,” said VP of Youth Development, Amos Magee. “Additionally, we are thrilled to add a coach in Tomaz Marinelli that can help our athletes maximize their athletic potential. He will have a great effect on our Academy through a great knowledge base, an inspiring personality and a love for soccer.”
Tom Harris – U15 Head Coach
Tom Harris, a native of Telford, England, joins the MNUFC Academy as its newest U15 Head Coach. Prior to joining the Minnesota side, Harris has extensive experience in youth soccer. He was most recently with North Carolina FC from 2018-2023 where he served, at various times, as the U15, U19, U23 Head Coach along with the role of Assistant Academy Director. Before his time with NCFC, he worked as the U17 Head Coach at the Houston Dynamo from 2013-2017, again serving as the Assistant Academy Director in Houston. From 2011-2013, Harris led the U15 Red Bull Ghana Academy squad. Internationally, Harris gained experience at the senior level as an assistant with the Sierra Leone National Team from 2013-2014 in their qualification efforts for the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
The English coach and has a U.S. Soccer A-License and U.S. Soccer Academy Director License. Harris additionally holds an ECFL License through the French Football Federation and MLS.
Tomaz Marinelli – U17 Assistant Coach & Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
Tomaz Marinelli, born in Sao Paolo, Brazil and raised in South Florida, joins the MNUFC Academy as the U17 Assistant Coach while additionally serving as the Academy Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Marinelli brings over five years of coaching and professional strength & conditioning experience – across both soccer and baseball – to the Loons Youth Development Program, having most recently spent the past two years as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles. Before his time in baseball, he spent time as soccer coaches at various levels at Alderson Broadus University from 2021-2022, IMG Academy in 2021 and Skagit Valley College from 2020-2021. Prior to 2020, Marinelli was an Assistant Coach for Lake Tahoe Community College’s men’s and women’s teams from 2018-2020 and Indian Hills Community College’s men’s squad from 2017-2018.
Marinelli graduated from the University of Iowa in 2016 and PennWest California in 2022, and holds a U.S. Soccer C-License. He is notably NSCA CPT® and CSCS® certified.
MNUFC Academy’s U15, U17 and U19 teams all compete at home this weekend, with all three squads facing Michigan Jaguars on Saturday, October 14. Then on Sunday, October 15, the U19 team is set to take on Indy Eleven Pro Academy. Every game on this weekend’s slate will be played at the National Sports Center Field 49 in Blaine, Minnesota.
