SARASOTA, Fla. [October 8th, 2025] – Sarasota Paradise today announced that Mika Elovaara has been appointed the club’s Head Coach and Technical Director as the organization enters its inaugural professional season in USL League One in 2026.
Elovaara has been serving as the Head Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development & Methodology for the Richmond Kickers since 2019. In 2023, Elovaara took on a dual role as Technical Director for Richmond United, aligning player development pathways under unified methodology in the Richmond soccer community. As part of the Richmond Kickers coaching staff with Head Coach Darren Sawatzky – who was named Coach of the Year in 2022 and a Coach of the Year Finalist in 2024 – the club became known for player development while also regularly competing for on-field success. Elovaara was an integral part of the staff as the Kickers claimed the 2022 USL League One Players’ Shield for finishing the regular season with the best record, setting a league single-season scoring record with 54 goals in the process.
Under Elovaara’s guidance in player development, Richmond produced nine academy signings for the pro team and four homegrown young pros. In addition, the Kickers have been widely recognized for their individual player performances: eight All-League First Team players, five All-League Second Team players, Golden Playmaker (most assists), Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year Finalist and a three-time league MVP and Golden Boot winner. Elovaara also led the successful implementation of the Kickers U20 team which won back-to-back division titles in 2024 and 2025, earning automatic bids to the USL Academy Finals and advancing to the Semifinals in 2024.
Beyond his role with the Kickers, Elovaara is a nationally acclaimed coach educator, developing course contents and presenting at the national convention for United Soccer Coaches and being the only active professional coach teaching the United States Soccer Federation A Senior License.
Over the course of his coaching career, Elovaara has coached and enjoyed success on all levels of the game, from girls’ and boys’ academy teams to NCAA Division 1 and the pro game. He has seen his players represent a variety of youth and senior national teams, including the likes of USA, Germany, New Zealand, Jamaica and Finland. As a player, after an illustrious academy career in his native Finland, Elovaara starred at UNC Wilmington, where he was a four-year starter and two-time captain and still holds the program record with 79 games started. He went on to appear in over 150 first team games in Finland before retiring.
His credentials include a USSF A Senior License, UEFA B License, and a UEFA Football Strength & Conditioning diploma. He holds a BA in English from UNC Wilmington, a Master’s in English Philology from the University of Oulu, and a PhD in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature from the University of Oulu.
“First and foremost, I am incredibly grateful and honored to have been selected to lead the Paradise to the pro level. The trust Marcus Walfridson and Marco Assis have shown in me is humbling, and I can’t wait to get started,” said Elovaara. “[Founder and CEO] Marcus [Walfridson] has been building Paradise patiently and diligently for many years, and I am thrilled to join him and the rest of the staff to take our work to the next level. We are guided by a shared vision of a modern soccer club in Paradise, and I will work tirelessly to continue to forge our club into a fun, exciting and proud part of the beautiful community. We all have a chance, in our respective roles, to do something unique and rare together.”
Club leadership emphasized that Elovaara’s appointment reflects Sarasota Paradise’s long-term vision.
“When selecting the first head coach for our club, it was important that we chose someone who is aligned with our values, knowledgeable about the league, and a proven track record of developing top talent,” said Marcus Walfridson, Founder and CEO of Sarasota Paradise. “Mika ticked all of our boxes and we are excited to bring him onboard to help build Paradise. In his dual role as Head Coach and Technical Director he will not only make sure we have a competitive team on the field this year, but also a pathway for all local talent who aspire to play professional soccer at the highest level.”
“Soccer is the players’ game more than any other team sport. My coaching style is rooted in my own playing career and the best coaches I was fortunate to play for,” added Elovaara. “They cultivated positive winning cultures where we held each other accountable and had each other’s backs. Our team will work to entertain our fans by playing modern, versatile soccer, with a style of play the players enjoy to play and fans enjoy to watch. Our staff and team will be relentless in making it worth your time and investment to support us on and off the field. We want to be the choice people make to spend their evenings with, and when they do, we will pay it back by giving you exciting experiences at our home at Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.”
About Sarasota Paradise
Founded in 2023, Sarasota Paradise will compete in USL League One beginning March 2026. The club is committed to delivering a high-level game-day experience, fostering youth development, and building a bridge between community and professional soccer in Sarasota.
Season Tickets will be available on Tuesday, October 14th. For more information on ticket pricing visit sarasotaparadise.us/seasontickets.
