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John Pascarella Joins Menace as Head Coach

By PDL Staff, 01/05/17, 2:30PM EST

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Sporting KC assistant has helped MLS club earn MLS Cup title, two U.S. Open Cup titles


Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Long-time Sporting Kansas City assistant John Pascarella has been revealed as the Des Moines Menace's new Head Coach ahead of the 2017 PDL regular season.

“From a large pool of applicants, John has distinguished himself as a coach who can achieve our goal of bringing the PDL championship back to Des Moines,” Menace General Manager Matt Homonoff said. “With his passion for the game, his engaging personality and his knowledge of players at the college and professional levels, we are confident that he is an ideal fit for the Menace.”

A former goalkeeper of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Pascarella has been an assistant coach at Sporting KC for the past eight seasons. He served as a Head Coach and Technical Director in the PDL for two years before joining the Major League Soccer club.

As part of the Sporting KC organization, Pascarella helped guide the club to the 2013 MLS Cup title and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (2012 and 2015).

“My time in Kansas City has been a tremendous learning experience, and being part of the process has been fantastic, because off all the emotional ties and relationships formed along the way,” Pascarella said. “I may be leaving the organization, but I will always have a love for the community, the club, the fans, the players and the staff.

“I see that same type of feel here in Des Moines, and I want to help make this stronger and broader. I want to connect, to get out and about in the community, to market the game and the club and the youth programs. Building ties is what I’ve learned in Kansas City more than anything.”

Founded in 1994, the Menace have won three consecutive Heartland Division titles and five total in their history. In 2005, the Menace won the PDL Championship.

Among the PDL franchise's distinguished alumni include Lamar Neagle, Deshorn Brown and Danny Cruz.

“The leadership piece – being the one who can set the tone, implementing my vision and leading the team – this is what excites me,” the Menace's new Head Coach said. “It’s a move I’ve been thinking about for a few years, and I am excited to take this next step with the Menace.”


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