by JAKE NUTTING

In the quick lead up to its inaugural season, NASL expansion side Rayo OKC has tapped a man with league experience to lead the side.

Sources have confirmed to EOS that Rayo OKC ownership has chosen former San Antonio Scorpions boss Alen Marcina as the club’s first head coach. The club has scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon to announce Marcina’s hiring.

With serious questions swirling around how the foreign investors from Rayo Vallecano would handle their North America startup, the appointment of Marcina signals an attempt to bring in some valued NASL experience for their first season. Marcina was an assistant with the Scorpions when the club finished on top of the points table during its inaugural season in 2012. The Canadian-born coach then took over midway through the following year when current Indy Eleven coach Tim Hankinson was sacked.

The Scorpions removed the interim tag from Marcina’s job title for the following year and it paid off well for both sides. Under Marcina in 2014, the Scorpions were first in goals allowed (24) and second goals scored (43) in the 27-game regular season. The Scorpions capitalized on those advantageous numbers by claiming the Fall Season title to clinch a playoff spot and they then took home the ultimate prize of the Soccer Bowl trophy in the championship final.

The follow up to that memorable season was one to forget, though. San Antonio bottomed out in 2015, finishing even with newcomer Jacksonville Armada FC for dead last in the combined points table. The club was only saved the embarrassment of technically going first to worst by virtue of having a better goal differential than Jacksonville.

Marcina was promptly fired by the Scorpions front office in a baggage claim fiasco only one day after the club’s final regular season match. He finished his brief tenure with the Scorpions with an overall record of 28-26-15.

At only 36-years-old, Marcina and Rayo OKC are banking on his experience and success in NASL to guide the club, hoping that 2015 was just a blip on an otherwise stellar resume.