University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Tight Ends Coach
- Email:
- football@uconn.edu
- Recruiting Area:
- Connecticut, New York, New Jersey
John Marinelli returns for his second season on the UConn sidelines in 2023. Marinelli joined head coach Jim Mora's staff last season as the tight ends coach and this year will move into the role of passing game coordinator as well as the executive director of recruiting with a focus on the offense.
Marinelli, the son of legendary New Canaan High School football coach Lou Marinelli, comes to UConn after spending the 2021 season as a senior analyst at the University of Illinois where he worked with head coach Bret Bielema on special projects including analytics and situational strategy development.
“I’m excited to welcome John Marinelli to the UConn football family,” Mora said. “John has deep ties to the state of Connecticut, and it is imperative that we keep the best talent in our backyard right here in the Nutmeg State. He’s an excellent coach and I know the young men in our program will benefit from his presence.”
Prior to his time with the Illini, Marinelli served as an analyst at the University of Arizona for two seasons.
“I'm excited to join the UConn Football family under Coach Mora's leadership,” Marinelli said. “Coach Mora is a proven head coach with great experience in both the NFL and college football, and I'm excited to be able to learn from him every day and help build this program back to where it belongs.”
Marinelli started his coaching career in the high school ranks, where he won multiple state titles in Connecticut. He was a two-time state champion player, then assistant coach, under his father at New Canaan before taking over as head coach at Greenwich. Marinelli’s Greenwich teams went 36-10 in four seasons, including a 13-0 season in 2018 that ended in a 34-0 state title victory over New Canaan for the Class LL championship. Following the season, he was awarded the 2018 USA TODAY Connecticut Coach of the Year.
Marinelli started his collegiate playing career at Fordham before transferring to Trinity (Conn.). He was a three-year starter and two-time all-conference selection for Trinity, leading the team to a conference championship in 2008.
Marinelli and his wife Anna, have one child, Luke, born in April of 2021.
Coaching Career
| Years | University/Organization | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2022- | UConn | Tight Ends Coach |
| 2021 | Illinois | Senior Analyst |
| 2019-20 | Arizona | Analyst |
| 2015-18 | Greenwich HS (Conn.) | Head Coach |
| 2010-15 | New Canaan HS (Conn.) | Assistant Coach |
