Yuri Lavrynenko enters his 15th season as the associate head coach at RIT in 2023. He brings a wealth of elite level playing and coaching experience to the Tigers program.

“Yuri is a great asset to our coaching staff and program,” said Garno. “His experience and knowledge of the game are evident every day.”

After leading Gates-Chili High School to a New York State Championship in 1995, Lavrynenko helped Indiana University to two NCAA and four Big Ten championships from 1996-99. While at Indiana, he earned All-American, All Big Ten and Final Four MVP accolades.

Lavrynenko excelled in the classroom at Indiana University, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 as well as being inducted into the Alpha Beta academic fraternity. In 2004 Lavrynenko earned a master of business administration from RIT with a concentration in marketing and finance.

Lavrynenko had a successful professional career. Lavrynenko played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer during the 2000-01 season, and helped the Fire to the U.S. Open Cup championship in 2001. He played for three teams in A-League from 2001-2004, including the Rochester Rhinos. He helped Montreal to the A-League championship in 2004.

In 2005 Lavrynenko founded “Yuri Lavrynenko Soccer” (YLS) which specializes in academies, individual training, team sessions and camps and clinics for youth soccer players on Rochester area. In 2009 Yuri earned his United States Soccer Federation “A” coaching license and also possesses USSF National Youth License.

Lavrynenko also works with FC Dynamo ROC, a premier youth soccer club in Rochester, NY, as the Technical Director through the YLS entity.