SAN ANTONIO – University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer head coach Kiki Lara – a three-time All-American, two-time Academic All-American and UIW Hall of Fame member – played for UIW from 2000-03. He was hired to lead the Cardinals in December 2019.
 
During his time as a student-athlete, the team had a cumulative mark of 58-15-6 and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Division II national tournament twice. He was voted the Heartland Conference Most Valuable Player three times and was the Heartland Male Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Lara was also voted the UIW Male Athlete of the Year and the UIW Student-Athlete of the Year in 2002 and 2003.
 
UIW Athletics caught up with Lara as his team continues practicing for a hopeful spring season.
 
Q: Why did you decide to attend UIW?
A: I still remember the time I stepped on campus and I was hit by the graciousness of the staff and student-athletes on the soccer team. It was a Sunday night; they had homework and things to take care of, but it was clear to me how close the brotherhood was within the team and how willing they were to make me a part of that even for a short while. I wanted to be part of that brotherhood. All my interactions on campus from then on were met with the same enthusiasm and graciousness from coaches to administration that I met on campus during my visit. I knew on my trip home that UIW was the fit for me.
 
Q: Talk about your time at UIW. What was your favorite part?
A: My time at UIW as a student-athlete was one of the most special parts of my life. I was in an environment where I had an opportunity to be as great as I wanted to be in all aspects. One of the best parts of my educational experience was the familiarity that came with class and professors. But also, the passion that my history and mathematics professors had about their subjects and about teaching. I still remember Dr. Gower like it was yesterday, and Dr. Zhou as well. I can still hear them teaching. They made such a big impact on my life, not as much for what they were teaching me, but how much they cared about us doing well and their sense of humor with what they were teaching. We had a lot of fun.
 
For me the best part of UIW was the feeling I had on campus. I knew that I was doing something important for the people that were responsible for us. From soccer to the classroom and even just living on campus, I always felt the presence of something bigger than just me. Relationships with my peers and friends had a genuine touch and the campus was an everyday reminder that God was at the forefront of all of what we were doing. Having God as a foundation on campus made it easier to understand how important maximizing our talent was. I remember the Sisters on campus that used to walk the track surrounding our field would not let us forget that!
 
Q: Why did you want to start coaching, and how did you get into coaching?
A: Coaching and teaching has been part of my family and extended family for a few generations. I grew up in a smaller city and I was part of a big family. We were all brought up to do our best and show that we cared about what we did. But it was also part of our family DNA to pass on experience and knowledge and for everyone to chip in and help guide.  Becoming a professional coach has been just part of the natural progression of who I am. I was very fortunate to have been coached by people who have inspired me to give my best to the game, but also to give back to the future generations. Dennis Currier (former head coach at UIW men'soccer from 2001-2004) gave me my first job at the University of Dayton when I finished my professional soccer career as a player. Coaching at this level was not an easy transition at first because I was so accustomed to being a player for so long. But as the years went by in Dayton, I found a real niche for myself in the coaching industry at this level and I truly feel I am doing what God has planned for me.
 
Q: Why did you decide to come back to UIW as a coach?
A: Coming back to coach at UIW was the easiest decision we have made as a family so far in our adult lives. This was a special place when I was here as a student-athlete and it provided the most memorable platform for me to be in back then. It became my home. But also, my wife Ashley completed her dietetics internship at UIW and worked in a few different hospitals around the city. My two sisters-in-law played for UIW soccer after I left, so we were all able to share some of those memories of coming back to campus and watching soccer matches and rooting for UIW. With so many shared memories, it has felt like coming home. Coaching for UIW has been a huge honor for me that I am humbled by. Still, the transition to actually making a "home" in San Antonio has been challenging as we had such strong memories in Charleston, Illinois, giving birth to our 3rd son and raising all three children in a very welcoming and familiar place we will not forget soon. COVID-19 has really brought on some major challenges for everyone, but specifically for us, our elementary aged children are trying their best to find their way with online schooling and adjusting to a new setting.
 
Q: What kind of culture are you looking to build on your team, and how are you doing that?
A: It is interesting to think about culture and what that means to an environment. We all know San Antonio as a city has a culture that can be explained in a beautiful way by most people similarly. UIW the institution would be described beautifully and in a certain way as well. Similarly, our men's soccer program has a strong identity rooted deeply over 30 years. That identity comes directly from all of the great people who have worked to build this program's reputation. We have had some of the finest mentors, coaches, players and students represent this program on the national stage. I am proud to say that the culture we plan to cultivate has already been established by so many greats. Our current assignment here is to bring it out every day when we train and when we go to the classroom and in the daily interactions we have with everyone on campus. We are looking to bring some color to a history and culture that has been here for a long time. In order to do this, we will need to illicit the strengths and commitment of all our staff and current student-athletes. We all need to own the UIW values and mission statement, and we need to bring those words to life every day as we get to work at something we love very much. We talk often about what type of an environment our student-athletes can make. I firmly believe this group we have is up for the challenge, and it's time now for UIW to be known as having one of the best academic and athletic environments in the country.  
 
Q: Are you looking forward to bringing in any new traditions to UIW men's soccer?
A: As I mentioned before, UIW has had some of the most talented collegiate soccer players and coaches come through this program that have gone on to have amazing coaching and professional careers. One of the most special parts to that statement is that along with that talent came humility, respect and love. There is a responsibility to everyone who has counted on us to instill these values into our environment every day. I look forward to bringing that to our coaching staff every day and mentoring exceptional student-athletes who understand the value in leading with those three values at the forefront. I look forward to highlighting old traditions that have made UIW soccer special. It is a great honor for me.
 
Q: How has your experience as an alum influenced your coaching culture?
A: I studied mathematics in college and when I finished at the University, I realized one thing: I did not know nearly enough about math. The depths that mathematics can go is far beyond my comprehension. Being in soccer as long as I have, I have come to realize the same thing. I do not have all of the answers about tactics, technical development, leadership and program development. I have learned to acknowledge that fact and take every opportunity to continue to grow into a better coach every year. Learning is not a straight line by any means. In fact, mistakes can cause major setbacks, but if we continue to keep our intentions for why we do what we do wholesome and from a place of gratitude, we can continue to grow. I believe that I learned a lot of those values in my formative years at UIW.
 
Q: What experience from other coaching positions are you bringing back to UIW?
A: I am grateful to have been mentored by some great people starting from childhood on up, and those people know exactly who they are, including my wife, my mom, and brothers and sisters who have been shining examples of doing what is right and standing up for what they believe in. Specifically from collegiate soccer coaching experiences, I was coached by two accomplished coaches in the game – both of whom are now UIW alums – in Jeremy Fishbein and Dennis Currier. I have watched those two go through their careers building nationally renowned wholistic programs and studying how they have done it. I was an assistant coach for Dennis Currier for 6 seasons where I learned so much about the business and how to organize, allocate and build strong sustainable soccer cultures through high standards. But I have also learned – from co-coaches such as Carlos Sendin, Paul Noble, Ashley Ross, Dirk Bennett and Jake Plant from my time at EIU – about how to make family out of strangers and how the power of gratitude can grow meaningful things that stand the test of time.
 
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