Ever since they joined MLS in 2009, the Seattle Sounders have been at the forefront of using statistical analysis. First, it was Dave Tenney using that information to inform training practices, it eventually evolved into hiring Ravi Ramineni to sort through the data and then to utilize it in game-play models. Ramineni eventually rose to the position of VP of Soccer Analytics and Research, a position virtually unheard of in MLS circles.
When Garth Lagerwey said during the Annual Business Meeting that Ramineni would be leaving, it was unclear what would become of the department.