Sasitharan Hired as Soccer Assistant Coach
7/23/2021 12:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State women's soccer team has announced the hiring of Rocky Sasitharan as assistant coach. Sasitharan, who had already been serving as a volunteer coaching assistant with Golden Flashes soccer since 2018, is promoted to this position to be on head coach Rob Marinaro's staff following his graduation from the University of Akron School of Law in 2021, Juris Doctor-Cum Laude.
During Sasitharan's time working as a volunteer coach on the Kent State soccer team, the Flashes went 2-1-1 versus Power Five schools. The Flashes averaged 1.85 goals per game during the 2018 season, which ranked second in the Mid-American Conference. Sasitharan had various responsibilities, including handling scouting reports, coordinating team training sessions, conducting retrograde and video analysis, and evaluating prospective student-athletes.
Prior to holding his volunteer position at Kent State, Sasitharan was the Girls' Director of Coaching at FC Durham Academy, where, at the time, he was the youngest coach in Canada with a National B coaching license. Sasitharan also spent two years on the club coaching staff for Ajax Soccer Club in Ontario.
Sasitharan's soccer experience as a player includes stints with Sigma FC Academy (2005-10), Erin Mill Soccer Club (2000-10), and York University (2010-11).
Sasitharan graduated with honors from York University in 2016 with a B.A. in Psychology. He then went on to work in several positions in a non-coaching capacity, including at the University of Akron, where he served as an extern on both the Athletics Compliance and Title IX Team.
"We would like to thank President Diacon, Athletic Director Randale Richmond, Senior Deputy Athletic Director Greg Glaus and the entire administrative staff for working so quickly to fill this position," Marinaro said. "Rocky is a wonderful addition to our program. We're really excited to get him working on the recruiting trail, but also working with our present student-athletes. He has a wonderful demeanor, is a great coach on the field, and we really look forward him helping us move this program in a more positive direction."
