Derek Marinatos Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 4th Season Alma Mater: Emory '98

Derek Marinatos enters his fourth season as an assistant for the Furman men's soccer program after being hired in April of 2006. Marinatos's responsibilities range in all areas of the program, including recruiting, film analysis, scheduling, budget, equipment, alumni relations and academics.

In 2007, Marinatos helped guide Furman to a 19-4-0 record, top 20 national ranking, Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships. The Paladins, who posted a perfect Southern Conference record, advanced through the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Wake Forest in the second round. Marinatos, who has helped lead Furman to a 41-19-2 overall record in three years at the school, also has a Certified USSF "A" National Coaching License.

This past summer, Marinatos served as goalkeeper coach for the United States U-20 National Team, including the squad's trip to Germany. During the summer of 2006, Marinatos served as goalkeeper coach and advance scout for the United States U-21 Women's National Team. He assisted the team during its summer camp in Maryland and traveled with the squad to the prestigious Nordic Cup where they lost in the finals to Germany.

"The addition of Derek to our staff has made a tremendous difference in the program," commented Allison. "We have made huge strides in recruiting and he has helped in solidifying the program and guiding us back to national prominence."

Marinatos served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for head coach Mike Rubesch and the Emory men's soccer program for six years. A 1998 Emory graduate, Marinatos helped the Eagles to a 15-4-0 record in 2005, which included their second appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the last three seasons.

Marinatos is the new Head Coach for the South Carolina 1995 ODP Boys Age Group. He is also a member of the Region III Goalkeeping Staff. Marinatos served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach in the Georgia Olympic Development Program beginning in 2000. His role included instructing five keepers who were part of the 2005 Region III pool. He is a founder of "The Derek Marinatos Goalkeeper Academy" and was a co-founder of "The Last Defense Goalkeeping Academy" and has served as director of goalkeeping for both the Gwinnett Soccer Association and the United Quest Soccer Club in Georgia. Marinatos also helped Atlanta's Marist High School to boys' and girls' state runner-up finishes as an assistant coach in 1998.

As a player at Emory, Marinatos guided the Eagles to three straight NCAA Tournament bids while earning three first-team all-league citations. The 1997 and 1998 Emory team captain was a two-time first-team All-South Region selection. Marinatos played with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the United Soccer League's First Division in 1999 and earned a full tryout with AC Milan of the Italian Seria A in the spring of 1999.

Marinatos graduated from Emory in 1998 with a B.A. in economics and recently received his masters degree in sports administration at Georgia State University.