We are pleased to announce that Mr. David "Bingy" Lara, Head of Academy Recruitment of Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), will be participating as a special coach. David Lara was born and raised in Las Cruces, NM; and played youth for NM Striker FC.

Lara’s involvement with Seattle Sounders FC, one of MLS' most successful teams, underscores the high caliber of coaching that participants at the Pacific Rim Cup can expect.

The Sounders have:

- Achieved Consistent Excellence: Finished in the top four in the Western Conference nearly every season.

- Won Multiple Trophies: Including four U.S. Open Cups (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014), the Supporters' Shield (2014), two MLS Cups (2016, 2019), and the CONCACAF Champions League (2021-2022).

- Competed in 11 Finals: Demonstrating sustained success and competitiveness on the field.

He started his career playing for the University of Kentucky men’s soccer while earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, then coached as a student and volunteer assistant for the program in 2009 and 2010. He moved east to learn as a graduate assistant and assistant coach at Morehead State University women’s soccer from 2010-2014, while receiving a master’s degree in Counseling.

Lara joined Real Salt Lake as the first assistant coach for the Real Monarchs in the 2015 and 2016 USL Championship Seasons. Moved to Washington in 2017 and spent 5 years at Federal Way Football Club as Technical Director, then 1 year as Director of Talent Identification for Seattle United, working most specifically with the boys' ECNL program.

He served as the US Soccer Federation YNT Network ID scout in Washington from 2018-2021 and has been a member of the Seattle Sounders since 2022.

～ Message from David Lara ～

Hello, everyone! I'm David "Bingy" Lara, and it’s a pleasure to greet you as the Head of Academy Recruitment for Seattle Sounders FC. I’m really excited to be a part of this year's Pacific Rim Cup in Hawaii.

This year at the Pacific Rim Cup, I’m looking forward to seeing all of you showcase your skills. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to learn from each other and enjoy the beautiful game together. With great coaches and former players like Kenji Treschuk and Takuya Yamada joining us, I’m sure we’re in for an unforgettable experience.

So, let’s get ready to make new memories, sharpen our skills, and most importantly, have a lot of fun. See you on the field, and let’s make this tournament one to remember!

Pacific Rim Cup 2024, Register Now!