About Coach Marinello
“It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” — Ephesians 4: 11-13
We will add: …And some are called to be coaches.” Coach Len Marinello brings over 40 years of coaching, educating and counseling experience to us. Over all those years, he’s coached over 10 sports in public and private schools, with 2 CIF championships to his credit, and made an impact on countless people’s lives in many positive ways.
Len has successfully trained and developed young people into top athletes and has transformed losing teams into champions. Len firmly believes that the winning principles he has applied in his athletic coaching can be applied to family life. “After all, “THE FAMILY IS THE GREATEST TEAM EVER CREATED,” says Len.
And Len has gone on to do just that! He and his wife Peggy are the parents of a blended family of 5 children, where they’ve honed their parenting skills for many years. But Len’s family and his ministry reach much further!
Since 1979, Len has been associated with CFO, Camps Farthest Out. Located throughout the US and Canada, CFO is a ministry that allows families to come together and grow together during a week-long camping experience. Prayer is the foundation of the CFO experience. “Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.”—Proverbs 3:6.”
Len is committed to Jesus Christ, to the power of prayer, and to the concept of living in the Kingdom. And CFO is the place where hundreds of people of all ages, in that week of intense sharing, prayer, and fellowship, have learned about those time-tested principles from Len, first-hand.
Len quotes Glenn Clark, founder of Camps Farthest Out, who said, “We are called to be ‘Athletes of the Spirit.’” Glenn believed that athletics brings people together in a spirit of play, and when a world plays together, it can then love and work together. And that leads us to life in the Kingdom of Heaven, here and now, and to the “peace that passes all understanding.”
When people pray together, and live out the model of a living, breathing prayer life centered on Jesus Christ, and surrendered to him, they become “Athletes of the Spirit,” able to impact others in love, and ultimately, the world. When we dedicate our body, mind and soul to God through play, work and worship, we are on the road to becoming truly whole.
Len Marinello shows us God’s grace in action. He shares practical Christianity through personal challenges and victories, coaching us on how to develop the skills needed for victory in Christ. Every person who crosses Len’s path is a part of his mission field. As Len shares those life skills with us, we find we can come into balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. As we practice those skills, we discover the wholeness of that abundant life which Christ promised, that life that is our rightful heritage.
Len speaks to hearts of all ages in a loving, gentle and understanding way.
Coach’s Experience:
After receiving his B.A. in Recreation Administration from San Diego State University in 1973, Len took a position as Director of Recreation for AVCO Community Developers in the planned community of Village Park in Encinitas, California. His position required planning and providing programs for hundreds of families in residence. He managed four recreational facilities, 12 acres of green belt areas, and maintained community relations.
From 1979-1997 Len achieved a successful sales career working for industry giants such as CSB Records, Maranatha Mfg, and Great Western Sales.
However, Len’s true love and ultimate goal is to work with families. Through the CFO program, Len has enthusiastically shared his time-tested principles on How to Win in Your Own Home at over 40 camps.
Len has also:
- Assisted families participating in drug recovery programs
- Served as a Director for Boys & Girls Club of San Diego
- Served as Minister to Youth and Families at Grace Church located in Encinitas, California
- Teacher & Coach for Sante Fe Christian School 1986-1992
- Teacher & Coach for Tri-City Christian School 1996-2005
- Director of Men’s Ministry and served under Family Life Ministries at Mountain View Community Church
