Kiki Lara joined the University of Dayton men's soccer staff in the spring of 2009. Now in his sixth season, serves as an assistant coach for the Flyers, winners of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Regular Season title. He focuses on the defensive side of the program and has played a crucial role in Dayton recording shutouts in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013.
In 2013, Lara helped lead the Flyers to one of the best seasons in school history with a .816 winning percentage, including 10 straight wins to open the campaign and just two losses in the entire calendar year. He was also honored as the Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the year by the NSCAA. The Flyers also posted a 0.74 goals against average, the second best mark in the Atlantic 10.
Dayton has been nationally ranked in 2009, 2012, and 2013 and has had three Top 40 recruiting classes in Lara's time with the program.
Lara reunited with Currier after playing three seasons for him at University of The Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas from 2001-2003. Lara, a three-time NSCAA all-American and captain, was instrumental in helping UIW capture three consecutive Heartland Athletic Conference championships.
In 2002 Incarnate Word boasted a 16-1-3 record, a No. 12 national ranking and earned the school's first NCAA tournament bid. Lara helped the squad to a 16-2-2 mark and a return trip to the NCAA tournament in 2003 and a No. 10 national ranking.
In addition to his immense success on the field, Lara excelled in the classroom. The two-time NSCAA Academic All-American graduated with a 3.9 GPA in mathematics, earning his bachelor's degree from Incarnate Word in 2003.
"Since Kiki left UIW, I have always wanted to work alongside him as a coach," said Currier. "Kiki is one of the most decorated NCAA players I have ever coached. He went on to a very successful professional career after graduating. Kiki will bring our program an incredible amount of energy. He has excellent technical skills and he is the hardest working individual I have coached in my career."
A native of Las Cruces, N.M., Lara attended the prestigious Bollettieri Soccer Academy in Florida. Upon graduation from UIW, he played four years in the professional ranks. He played for the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division from 2004-2006, making 38 appearances. He comes to Dayton after a successful 2007-08 season with the Portland Timbers, also a team in the USL First Division. He made 25 appearances for the Timbers who advanced to the USL semifinals.
Lara also gives back to the community. Not once, but twice he earned his respective team's humanitarian award. He was honored with the Thunder's Humanitarian of The Year Award in 2006, and while in Portland, was named the Timbers' 2007 Community Player of the Year.
During the offseason, Lara feeds his passion for coaching by volunteering with his mother and brothers at the family soccer club Las Cruces Strikers, one of the most successful clubs in New Mexico. He also volunteered his time coaching in Portland.
In addition to coaching club teams, Lara served as an assistant coach for the Washington State University women's soccer program in 2005 while playing for the Minnesota Thunder.
Kiki and his wife Ashley reside in Oakwood, Ohio.
