The transition from amateur to professional soccer wasn’t likely to be a smooth for the Sarasota Paradise. Certaily there was a higher likelihood of early failure than immediate success.
Mika Elovaara, the head coach for the Paradise, understood that when he was hired to lead the Lakewood Ranch-based club. He’s been with USL League One since its founding in 2019.
Other clubs have come and gone in seasons past, and Elovaara has seen many of them struggle with the learning curve that comes with being a first-time professional organization…