For Ian and Dave Sarachan, family time now comes with a final whistle.
When Ian got his first MLS assistant coaching job with the Colorado Rapids ahead of the 2024 season, his father, Dave, was finishing up a stint as an assistant in the Israeli Premier League.
Dave, a longtime right-hand man of Bruce Arena and former coach of Chris Armas when he played for the Chicago Fire, visited Commerce City a few times after leaving Israel last June. It was mostly for the grandkids, though he enjoyed watching Ian coach, too.
There’s a circle of trust between Armas and the Sarachans, and it was clear to Dave why the Rapids coach — a relationship-driven leader — brought Ian onto this project last year.
“(Ian) has this uncanny ability to reach players and communicate on a depth that a lot of young people don’t ever acquire,” Dave told The Denver Post. “He had that ability to speak to older players with my Fire. He had that ability to lead for his college team and in the role he has now.
“… So much of it when you’re young is finding the moments and picking your spots to have a voice and to not have a voice. Ian has a tremendous sense of when his voice needs to be heard and when it doesn’t.”
Sharing a sideline wasn’t much on the family’s radar, but then Arena got the San Jose Earthquakes head coaching job after the club finished dead last in the league in 2024. Dave was announced as an assistant the following month.
The Sarachans circled the dates on the calendar immediately.
In March, Ian got the better of his elder in a 2-1 Rapids win at San Jose. Even better, that week just happened to be Ian’s turn in the rotation to lead the club’s scouting.
“It’s not necessarily a position you ever think you’re going to find yourself in, but it was very surreal. That’s the best word I can use to describe it,” Ian told The Post. “The fact we get to do it again in pretty quick succession to the first time, it’s really a great experience.”
The “Sarachan Derby” returns Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and this time, Dave’s not just in town for the grandkids.
The two regularly chat about soccer and their teams specifically, but there’s not much place for it days before the teams face off. Ian teased his father about the Earthquakes’ lineup for Wednesday’s Open Cup win over Sacramento Republic, but Dave called the soccer talk a “strange dance” this week in particular.
“We kind of broke the ice the first time, but it’s still going to be a wonderful experience,” said Dave, who’s spent 42 years in coaching. “Especially going to Colorado, because I’ve spent a lot of time there since (Ian) moved there. It’ll be a familiar building, I know the players, I know Chris (Armas) and their staff.
“… It’s kind of a reunion in a way, from the soccer side of things. They’re a good team, and we think we’re playing well. I’m excited about the matchup.”
The Rapids (eighth Western Conference) are coming off two disappointing results and need to regain momentum. A recurring issue — conceding goals near halftime — haunted them again last week in a 2-1 loss at D.C. United, where both D.C. goals came in first-half stoppage time.
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In this matchup, a lot rides on Ian’s unit — the central and defensive midfield. Cole Bassett, Josh Atencio and Oliver Larraz will carry much of the weight of disrupting San Jose’s deadly attack early while picking moments to spark quick counterattacks — a Rapids hallmark.
While both Sarachans are in it for the three points, they’re not pretending it’s just another game.
“I’ve been to thousands of his games, and to be able now to do it from this vantage point is so surreal,” Ian said. “And I think for both of us, it’s just really special.”
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