Elovaara leaves after making an indelible impact on the Kickers’ Organization and all levels of soccer in Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. – Head Assistant Coach and Director of Methodology and Player Development Mika Elovaara is set to depart the Richmond Kickers to pursue a new career opportunity after four successful seasons working with the pro team and nearly a decade developing the sport in the greater Richmond area.
“I can’t put into words how grateful I am for my time with the Kickers,” Elovaara said. “I have been involved in the game all my life, and I know how rare it is to find the kind of community we have here with the Kickers leadership, staff, team, and fan base. I am forever indebted to Rob Ukrop for his belief in me and for the way he has led us through the most unusual of circumstances, allowing us the time to build a winning culture and create new history for all of RVA to be part of and enjoy.
“It is no accident that our club has earned recognition on and off the field in the past couple of years – from media and various front office awards to our regular season championship in 2022 – as camaraderie and work ethic run deep in the organization.”
Elovaara capped off his time with the Kickers in 2022, sharing the bench with Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky, as the club enjoyed its first regular-season title since 2013 and hosted its first home playoff game since the 2014 season. On top of setting the new league milestone of 54 goals scored in a single season, the club saw two of its top developing talents in Ethan Bryant and Stuart Ritchie move to MLS Next Pro sides as they continue their ascent up the American soccer pyramid.
Overall, the Kickers saw marked improvement in each of the three seasons that Sawatzky and Elovaara coached together, and the team finished with a winning record in every season and featured Emiliano Terzaghi who earned league MVP in all three seasons.
“Working with Mika over the past three years has been a blessing, and his influence on the professional team here will be felt for years to come,” Sawatzky said. “He is well educated and certified in the game. His day-to-day work helping players reach higher levels both on the field for us and in the opportunities he has helped players to earn is remarkable. Mika wore many hats in our club, but his understanding of player development and his tactical acumen made us all better in a very competitive environment. He will make every coach and organization he is around better.”
In Sawatzky and Elovaara’s first year together in the truncated 2020 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team navigated the season without a single positive COVID test and controlled their destiny in the final match of the regular season leading up to the USL League One Final. Then, in 2021, the Kickers made their first postseason appearance since the 2016 season after the team put together a memorable five-game win streak in the final stretch of the season.
Elovaara originally joined the Kickers as the team’s First Assistant Coach prior to the start of the 2019 season as a part of the late David Bulow’s staff. It was announced alongside Sawatzky’s appointment in November 2019 season that Elovaara would stay on as the club looked to reinvigorate talent development and create pathways to higher levels of professional soccer for local and regional players.
Prior to joining the Kickers, Elovaara served as the Commissioner of the Boys Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). He originally moved to the Richmond area to become the Associate Head Coach for the University of Richmond’s women’s soccer team from 2014-2018. With the Spiders, his main responsibilities included recruiting, player development, game model development, and match analysis.
Elovaara now prepares for his next journey in growing soccer in the United States after becoming a staple in the Richmond soccer community’s youth, collegiate, and professional levels and creating lasting relationships in the greater central Virginia area.
“Careers in professional sports are transient by nature, and you never know what’s around the corner. While I am very excited to move on to a new challenge with a historic club in the MLS, I will dearly miss my day-to-day work with Darren, Gigo, Ray, Dr. Roberts, and the team.
“Great leaders empower those who work for them, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more or better from Darren. He has allowed me to be myself and take on a lot of responsibility while helping me grow. It’s been an honor and an absolute pleasure to work alongside Darren, and I can’t wait to watch the team carry on the work to new heights. Beyond the professional relationship, our families have become close and I know we are friends for life.”
Sawatzky reiterated Elovaara’s sentiments, “on the personal side, I am very happy for Mika and his family. The opportunity they all have will be amazing and it’s not every day that you find close friends in the game through the process. I wish him, Henna, and their children the best of luck in the new adventure, but it is unlikely they will need it. Good luck and we will see you all soon.”
No stranger to celebrating with the City Stadium faithful after every match, Elovaara now looks forward to the opportunity to join the fans in the stands to enjoy a Kickers match where he will likely be seen sporting his signature sign of the horns hand gesture with every Kickers’ goal scored.
“As we transition to life outside of Richmond, our whole family is looking forward to supporting the team remotely and from the stands when possible,” Elovaara said. “The Red Army has been the most loyal and passionate supporter group I have experienced, and I look forward to seeing some of those familiar faces on the other side of the wall at City Stadium one day!”
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