CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Fighting Illini soccer head coach Katie Hultin announced the addition of Marisa Kanela to the coaching staff as an associate head coach.
“I am beyond excited to welcome Marisa to the family,” Hultin said. “She is a proven competitor with an incredible passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field. Her dedication to helping athletes and teams reach their full potential aligns perfectly with our mission and her talent for recruiting the best and brightest makes her an invaluable addition to our program. Marisa’s drive, character and commitment will have an immediate and lasting impact on our program, and I can’t wait to see the growth and success she will help cultivate here at Illinois.”
Kanela comes to Illinois after serving as the Girls Academy Director at Beadling Soccer Club in Pittsburgh. The Wantagh, N.Y., native, followed up her decorated playing career at West Virginia (2002-05) by spending 14 seasons on the Mountaineer coaching staff (2007-23), including five as the associate head coach.
“I am grateful to Katie [Hultin] for this opportunity and I’m especially excited to work alongside a leader and staff who all share the same values and vision for this program,” Kanela said. “From the moment I stepped on campus, it was clear that the values, culture and commitment to helping student-athletes reach their full potential are at the heart of everything we do here. I look forward to mentoring our athletes, setting an example for them and fostering a championship mentality that will help them grow into the best versions of themselves both on and off the field. Through passion for the game and a commitment to their development, I’m excited to work with the entire staff to continue elevating the success of this program and represent such a prestigious institution.”
During her time in Morgantown, Kanela helped guide the Mountaineers to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2016, three Big East Tournament championships, five Big 12 Tournament championships and five Big 12 regular season titles.
Kanela was also part of a coaching staff that developed 20 United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, 33 All-Big 12 First Team selections, nine All-Big East First team honorees and 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy winner, Kadeisha Buchanan.
Also under her tutelage, 37…
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