Carleton Ravens Announce Marcelo Plada as New Men’s Head Coach
Excerpts of the following story are from Carleton University’s athletics website and story from July 21, 2023 https://goravens.ca/2023/07/msoc-ravens-announce-marcelo-plada-as-new-head-coach/.
The Carleton Ravens are proud to announce Marcelo Plada as the new Head Coach Soccer Operations of the Carleton Ravens.
The current head coach of Canada’s Military National Team, Plada holds a Canadian A National License and a coaching resume that spans over two decades.
Marcelo is a decorated Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Management from RMC and an Executive Masters of Business Administration from Royal Roads University.
“I am honoured to join the Carleton Ravens community and bring my global management experience, educational acumen, and proven track record of success,” expressed Plada. “I look forward to building upon the winning tradition established by our revered alumni, I am firmly committed to continuing upon your legacy of success.”
In addition to his international experience, Plada has also led youth and academy programs in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto; while working in the United States, he led programs in Macon, Georgia, and Tacoma, Washington.
“We are excited as a department to welcome Marcelo to the Ravens coaching staff,” said Director of High Performance Sport Kwesi Loney. “His experience as a player domestically and overseas in addition to his extensive coaching background will be invaluable to the players of our Men’s and Women’s Soccer program. We also look forward to the guidance and added value he will provide to our Summer and Jr Ravens Programs as we continue to find new ways to engage the youth in our community.”
Plada replaces Loney who May 4th was announced as the Assistant Director of High Performance Sport at Carleton.
As a Raven, Loney rejoined the Ravens as an assistant with the men’s soccer program in 2010. The former all-star student-athlete spent six years working under Hall of Fame coach Sandy Mackie before his appointment as head coach on June 28, 2016.
A committed member of the Carleton community, Loney is currently the Athletics EDI Coordinator and the staff lead of the Race, Equity and Diversity sub-committee of Carleton’s Varsity Council. In 2021, Loney earned a Service Excellence Award for his work within the Carleton community.
Loney is a National A licensed coach with years of experience that has included coaching Algonquin College where he won an OCAA championship, the Ottawa Fury women’s W-League team where he won a W-League Championship, and Ottawa Fury Soccer Club youth program. Along the way, Loney was frequently honoured earning OCAA, CCAA, OUA and U SPORTS coach of the year honours during his career. Kwesi Loney is also currently an assistant coach on the Technical Staff of Atlético Ottawa (CPL).
Plada will officially join Carleton University on August 1 as the team prepares for its season opener on September 3, 2023, against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
Sources: https://goravens.ca/2023/07/msoc-ravens-announce-marcelo-plada-as-new-head-coach/
Kwesi Loney named Assistant Director, High Performance Sport