Coaching

Kelowna United prides itself on the expertise of its coaching staff. 

Technical Director: Dante Zanatta

Dante was born and raised on Vancouver Island and has been developing his coaching abilities and collecting many titles over the past 20 years. In his early years of soccer, Dante was a key player with teams like Gorge FC of the VISL and Victoria United FC of the PCSL and went on to coach both to several championships. He was honoured as the top coach in British Columbia by the BC Soccer Association in 2002 and feels his success is due to his passion and love for the game.

In the summer of 2014, Zanatta earned his National ‘A’ Coaching License (the highest available in Canada) from the Canadian Soccer Association. 

Dante has been a coach with the British Columbia Soccer Association as the manager of District Development Centres and Grassroots and a staff coach with the CSA National Training Centre West. He has been the technical director for Kelowna United FC since 2011.

Assistant Technical Director: Tom Flanagan

Tom was born and raised in Kelowna, BC and started coaching locally in academies and camps at age 14. In 2003 and 2004 he gained playing experience with Doncaster Rovers FC in South Yorkshire, England with the youth team and reserves. Now focused on developing his coaching abilities and furthering his knowledge of the game, he has obtained his National 'B' coaching license through the Canadian Soccer Association. Tom has been the assistant technical director for Kelowna United FC since 2009.

Coaching experience:

• Assistant TD at Kelowna United FC: 2009-present
• Assistant Coach UBCO Heat 2011- present
• Head Coach at OKM Soccer Academy: 2009-present
• Head Coach U16 boys TOFC: 2012
• Head Coach U13 boys TOFC: 2011
• Head Coach U14 boys TOFC: 2010

Staff Coach: Luis Solarte

Luis Solarte was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. He began his career as a Physical Education Teacher at a secondary school. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports and Physical Science with an emphasis in Soccer, he began to develop his coaching career working with local soccer academies, elementary to senior school soccer teams, and competitive league soccer teams. 

In 2012, he moved to Northern California, USA, and continued his education, earning an Associate of Science degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education - all in English. With ten years expanding and improving his knowledge and skills in coaching in the United States culture, he coached, mentored, and led North American soccer youth athletes from preschool ages up to high school. 

He was invited to join the Folsom Lake College Soccer Team as an Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Trainer.  He was then asked to join the Sacramento Gold FC, a semi-professional soccer club, as an Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Trainer.

In 2021, Luis moved to Kelowna, BC, and began to work with the U15 Kelowna United High-Performance team. He was responsible for the Goalkeeper training program for Kelowna United, and volunteered to train the goalkeepers for the University Of British Columbia.

Currently, Luis is managing the Kelowna United Academy and KU Goalkeeper program, as well as coaching the U12, U14,and U17 teams. 

Luis’ extensive and diverse experience provides a highly effective, impactful, multicultural soccer philosophy to Kelowna United players, contributing to their continued soccer development. 

Responsible Movement Coaching Pledge

Team officials of any youth team shall consist of a minimum of one member of the same gender as the players on the team. This team official must be present on the bench and in the changing rooms.

All interactions between a team official and an individual player must take place within earshot and in view of other individual (team officials, players, parents, match officials and/or association officials).