Dave LaRocca

Dave joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation in May 2025 as the Director of Research & Evaluation. He is a social scientist with more than 15 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs, with a particular emphasis on community-based participatory research.
Dave’s work has focused on promoting healthy eating and active living, fostering wellbeing, improving access to behavioral healthcare, and advancing sport-based youth development programs. He has published articles on the relationship between youth sports participation and mental health and the evaluation of a trauma-informed sport training for youth sports coaches. He brings to the Foundation a deep background in public health, research, and evaluation.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Dave worked for a local health department, where he led strategic initiatives in mental and behavioral health. He previously held roles at the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, where he led community-based projects focused on improving physical and mental health for families and young children; Harlem Children’s Zone, where he oversaw the implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive community health and wellness program; and Grassroots Soccer, where he delivered HIV/AIDS and life-skills trainings to educators and coaches in South Africa.

Dave earned his Doctorate in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health, a Master’s in Nutrition from Columbia University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, where he was a four-year member of the men’s soccer team. Outside of work, you can find Dave spending time with his wife, kids, family, and friends – often outdoors, enjoying good food, and cheering on his favorite teams.