A native of Romania, Marinescu graduated with a Bachelors in Hospitality from USF in 2001, and played soccer for the Dons from 1997 to 2000. After USF, he moved to Chico with his family and he taught foreign languages at Chico State University and at Chico High School. In 2002, he was asked if he would be interested in possibly becoming the Head Coach of the Panthers girls soccer coach. Marinescu, who had coached the Orland boys soccer team in 2021 while teaching at Orland High School, jumped at the opportunity.
He also helps coach a Chico Cal U-12 team that his daughter played for. After coaching in Orland, Marinescu said he felt it was the right time in his professional career to move to Chico and the opportunity to teach, coach and be closer to his family was one he could not pass up. “It’s a whole new thing because it changes you as a person,” Marinescu said about the difference between playing and coaching soccer. “You need to somehow transfer the knowledge to other people that are not necessarily going to learn as you learn, but to see the results is something incredible.”
Marinescu said teaching and coaching compliment each other well because as a coach he gets to see his students in an environment that gives him a better understanding of who the girls are as players and students (EnterpriseRecord).
Marinescu, also known as “T.B.,” first came to America for the opportunity to play soccer at the University of San Francisco. He was offered a scholarship. He now plays midfielder for the Rooks. Marinescu, 30, also is a full-time Spanish teacher at Paradise High School. He wants to eventually get a Masters Degree to further his teaching career.
On the soccer field, Marinescu sees the American game as a much more physical game. In Romania, soccer is more tactical and strategic. That”s what attracted Rooks coach Dave Stahl to Marinescu. “T.B. has a deep soccer culture and is a hard worker,” said Stahl, who is in his 14th season with the team. “He is also very technical with his game (Daily Democrat).”
