Sarasota, Fla. — Sarasota Paradise is proud to announce the appointments of its technical staff ahead of the upcoming season, assembling a coaching staff with extensive experience across international soccer, the professional game in the United States, and elite player development environments.
Former England international Trevor Sinclair has been named Head Assistant Coach. Sinclair enjoyed an accomplished professional playing career spanning nearly two decades, most notably in the English Premier League. A dynamic winger and midfielder, he featured for historic clubs such as Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, and Manchester City, while also representing England at the international level, including in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Since transitioning into coaching, he has dedicated his time to developing young academy players to the professional game, as well as serving as an assistant coach at the highest level, most recently as an Assistant Coach for the Jamaica Men’s National Team.
“Putting together the inaugural professional staff, I wanted to do everything I could to hire the most qualified staff and the best possible people,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Mika Elovaara. “I’ve known Trevor for well over a decade and he exemplifies both of these pursuits. His playing background will help him mentor our young men and guide the team in establishing, maintaining, and raising the daily standards. His coaching education and experience complement his playing years very nicely, as he will bring fresh and modern ideas from the top of the game to our day-to-day. I look forward to welcoming him and his family to Paradise.”
“Can’t wait to get started at Paradise. I’m here to work hard and to win,” said Trevor Sinclair.
Joining the Paradise technical staff as Assistant Coach is Mark Ward, who comes to Sarasota from USL League One rivals Greenville Triumph, where he served as an Assistant Coach and the U-20 USL Academy Head Coach for the past two seasons. Prior to that, Ward served as the Academy Director of Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, also of USL League One. Ward brings with him a wealth of experience in training design, opposition analysis, and player development.
“Mark Ward is one of the most exciting up-and-coming coaches in the USL,” said Elovaara. “I have enjoyed getting to know him both in the academy space and as an opposing colleague, and look forward to coaching with him now. He will bring immense passion for the game, enthusiasm for player development, great analytical insight and attention to detail to our staff. We are delighted to bring him and his wife, Josie, to the area.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Sarasota Paradise. Over the last two years, you could see the greater Sarasota community really supporting the club, and I’m thankful to be part of this growing community,” said Mark Ward.
Also appointed as Assistant Coach is Glodi Konga, PhD, who most recently worked on the Liberty University men’s soccer staff as Associate Head Coach. Konga is a familiar face in the greater Sarasota community due to his recent work as the inaugural Head Men’s Soccer Coach at New College of Florida, where he successfully built the collegiate program from the ground up. Dr. Konga has spent several years in the college game, contributing to player development, training design, recruiting, and game preparation, and is now looking to translate that experience to the professional game.
“Bringing Glodi back to Paradise from Liberty University was a key target for me in the off-season,” said Elovaara. “He is an intelligent and ambitious man whose values align with our club values. It was always important to have continuity from the previous Paradise years for us, on the roster and staff, and I am delighted that Glodi is coming back to help build Paradise to the pro level.”
“What excites me most is representing a club that is ambitious, community-driven, and committed to doing things the right way. Sarasota Paradise has built something special, and the opportunity to help elevate it further on the field and within the community is something I take great pride in,” said Glodi Konga, PhD.
Another returnee from the previous Paradise staff, Goalkeeper Coach Mark MacPhee has been with Paradise for the past two seasons in USL League Two. A former collegiate player at Lyon College, MacPhee holds the Level 3 Diploma from United Soccer Coaches and is known for his individual coaching, helping young goalkeepers improve their technique, tactical understanding, game management, and leadership.
“Similar to Glodi, securing Mark MacPhee for our staff for both the continuity as well as his coaching quality was a goal for me in building a staff,” said Elovaara. “Mark is an enthusiastic member of our greater community and he will be an asset to our team beyond the goalkeepers. He is ambitious about his own development and will therefore set a great example to our players as well.”
“It’s a privilege to help bring professional soccer here and to represent my community. I’m passionate about giving young players a chance to grow on and off the field,” said Mark MacPhee.
Completing the 2026 staff is Chief Scout Tiley Nunnink. A former collegiate player at San Jose State University, Nunnink has a storied career in the game, having previously worked in NCAA Division I and both the USL Championship and USL League Two, ranging in his appointments from Assistant Coach to Soccer Operations and General Manager.
“Tiley Nunnink has been instrumental in building our roster for the inaugural professional season in Paradise,” said Elovaara. “I am grateful to our club leadership for hiring such a tremendous resource and asset to assist me in all aspects of the process. He has an incredible network of contacts in the game and an incisive analytical mind, which has allowed us to evaluate and scout dozens and dozens of players in consideration for our roster.”
“I like to create environments where people can journey toward or reach their highest potential, whether that’s on the pitch or off the pitch,” said Tiley Nunnink.
These appointments reflect the continued commitment by Sarasota Paradise to building a competitive professional club and a high-performance culture around it, providing players with experienced leadership both on and off the field.
Together, the assembled technical staff represents a blend of international experience, domestic professional knowledge, and a deep commitment to player development. As Sarasota Paradise prepares for its inaugural professional season, the club enters this next chapter with a staff aligned in vision, standards, and ambition, focused on building a competitive identity and a lasting foundation for the future.
