Elovaara Named Head Coach of Sarasota Paradise as Club Prepares for First Professional Season
LAKEWOOD RANCH — For longtime soccer coach Mika Elovaara, the thrill of the game never faded. More than two decades removed from his playing days, the 50-year-old still feels the same spark that first drew him to the sport as a child in Oulu, Finland.
Now, that passion fuels his newest challenge: guiding the Sarasota Paradise through its first professional season. The club, based at Lakewood Ranch’s Premier Sports Campus, appointed Elovaara as head coach and technical director on October 8 ahead of its debut in the United Soccer League’s League One in March 2026.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Marcus Walfridson, Sarasota Paradise spent three seasons competing in the South Florida Division of USL League Two, an amateur league showcasing college athletes and emerging professionals. The club’s promotion to League One earlier this year marks a major step forward, bringing professional soccer to the Sarasota-Bradenton area for the first time.
Elovaara joins the organization with an extensive coaching résumé. Since 2019, he has served as assistant coach and director of player development for the Richmond Kickers, where he helped the team achieve a regular-season title and record-breaking offensive performance in 2022. His collegiate experience includes coaching positions with both UNC Wilmington and the University of Richmond women’s soccer programs.
His own playing career began at age five, eventually leading him to the United States, where he became a four-year starter at UNC Wilmington and one of the program’s all-time appearance leaders. After graduating with a degree in English, he returned to Finland, logging more than 150 professional matches before transitioning to coaching.
Elovaara describes success as more than wins and losses. For him, it starts with deep community connection — the emotional bond between fans, players, and the city they represent. He envisions Sarasota Paradise as a club that grows alongside its supporters, with full stands, shared pride, and a culture built on hard work and inclusivity.
The organization has already begun building its first professional roster, hiring a chief scout and focusing on developing domestic talent. The long-term vision includes creating a player pathway to higher tiers of American soccer, including the USL Championship and Major League Soccer.
Elovaara emphasizes that talent alone is not enough for success. The foundation, he believes, must be culture — a collective belief in the mission and identity of the club.
For Sarasota Paradise, this moment represents more than the start of a new season. It’s the beginning of a professional legacy, led by a coach whose lifelong devotion to the sport continues to inspire both players and fans.
American Men’s Soccer Pyramid
First Tier (Professional): Major League Soccer
Second Tier (Professional): USL Championship
Third Tier (Professional): USL League One, National Independent Soccer Association, MLS Next Pro
Fourth Tier (Amateur): USL League Two, National Premier Soccer League, United Premier Soccer League
Fifth Tier (Collegiate): NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA