Rafael Martinez - Assistant Coach - Men's Soccer Coaches

Rafael Martinez

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
rmb42@umkc.edu
Phone:
816-235-5469

Rafael Martinez enters his fifth season as an assistant coach for Kansas City Men's Soccer in 2024. Martinez, nicknamed Rafa, came to Kansas City after 10 seasons of head coaching duties at Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa. Martinez has aided the Roos to major success during his time in KC, including a conference championship and an NCAA Round of 16 run. Following Kansas City's unprecedented tournament run in 2024, he was named by TopDrawerSoccer as one of 10 "Men's DI Assistant Coaches to Know."

In 2023, the Roos went 4-8-6 with a 2-3-3 mark in league play. Season highlights included a 2-1 win over Creighton on Sep. 12, the first win over the Bluejays since 2008, and a Summit League Semifinal PK win over No. 23 Denver, becoming the first team to ever eliminate the Pioneers in the Semifinal round.

In 2022, the Roos notched their first winning season in 12 years, earning a result against a top-ten nationally-ranked team for the first time since 2008 and qualifying for the Summit League Finals for the first time since 2009. Martinez helped lead Kazuki Kimura and Christian Koffi to First Team All-League honors.

In 2021, Kansas City earned its first qualification to the Summit League Championships since 2012 with Martinez's help. The Roos also picked up their first result against a ranked team since 2013, a 2-2 draw with No. 15 Virginia Tech.

The Roos went 5-8-1 overall and 5-4-1 in Summit League play in his first year, with Head Coach Ryan Pore winning 2020 Summit League Coach of the Year honors. Martinez also played a large role in securing the Roos' signing class of 2021, which brought in 14 new student-athletes.

On March 24, 2020, Kansas City Head Men’s Soccer Coach Ryan Pore announced the hiring of Rafael Martinez as the assistant men’s soccer coach.

From 2010-19, Martinez accumulated the most wins in Marshalltown program history with a 129-41-11 (.743) record as members of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. He left MCC with the Tigers claiming consecutive regional championships. In 2018, his team finished fifth at the Division I NJCAA national tournament with an 18-1-2 mark.

In his career, Martinez developed a culture of success in the classroom as well. In three straight years, his teams were recognized as the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year. Individually, 26 players boasted Academic All-America honors.

Martinez played collegiately at Iowa Wesleyan College from 2004-2006, where he earned First-Team All-Conference honors and boasted the Conference Newcomer of the Year accolade. He was named team captain and set school records in season and career points, and goals scored.

At Iowa Wesleyan, Martinez double majored in physical education and exercise science and wellness, graduating with honors in May of 2007. A native of Spain, he graduated from the Universidad de Cordoba in 2003 with an elementary education degree. Martinez earned his master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University-Irvine (Calif.) in the summer of 2013.

Martinez also has head coaching experience at the club level with C.D. Alcazar, soccer schools like Seneca-Real Madrid C.F., boys and girls high school soccer in Columbus Junction and Marshalltown (Iowa), and in several international soccer camps. He also holds a “B” National Coaching License from the United States Soccer Federation.

“I couldn't be more pleased to welcome Rafa and his family to Kansas City,” said coach Pore. “Rafa has been a head coach the past 10 years at a highly successful program at Marshalltown and understands how to build a winning culture. His vision of the game, ability to relate to players and experience all stood out during the search process. Our student-athletes will benefit tremendously with Rafa in our program.”

College Career