Varsity

Head Coach: Derek Bingham (20th year)

Hired at the age of 24 in 2005, Derek Bingham has been the Head Baseball Coach of the Kangs for the past 19 years. During his tenure, Lake Washington has won 2 WIAA State Championships in 2016 & 2019, compiling a record of 297-124 (.705 win pct), including a 196-63 (.757) record in the KingCo conference. The Kangaroos (Kangs) have made the playoffs in each of his seasons at the helm, appearing in ten conference or district championship games. They have won eight KingCo championships (regular season or tournament) and made ten trips to the State tournament since 2005.

Under Bingham’s leadership, Lake Washington was the State runner-up in 2014 before winning the first WIAA state championship in school history in 2016. The Kangs followed their first State title up with another one three years later in 2019, a season which included the first undefeated KingCo regular season for any team in at least the past 15 seasons. They returned to the State Championship game in 2023, finishing 2nd place in Washington State for the 3A classification.

Bingham's success has earned him KingCo Coach of the Year Honors four times (2005, 2009, 2019, 2023), along with the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association (WSBCA) 3A Coach of the Year and National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Washington State Coach of the Year in 2016 & 2019. He was also honored as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) High School 2016 Division III Regional Coach of the Year, spanning the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah & Washington​. Bingham was one of just 24 coaches honored by the association in the entire country. 

ASSISTANT COACH: Don Howarth (22nd season)

Don Howarth has been a mainstay on the Lake Washington HS staff since 2002, helping legendary coach Dave Chambers prior to his retirement. Howarth remained on as assistant coach when Bingham took the reigns in 2005, and has been an integral member of the coaching staff ever since. He is a 1997 alumni of the Lake Washington baseball program.

ASSISTANT COACH: NICK PIZZUTO (3rd season)

Nick Pizzuto returns to the Varsity staff in 2024 for his third consecutive season. Nick was previously a member 2016 & 2019 coaching staff, helping the Kangs to their two State Championships. Pizzuto played for Coach Bingham from 2005 - 2007, and was a member of the 2005 KingCo Championship club. He continued his career at Edmonds Community College before finishing up at Lewis & Clark State.  He will be responsible for the outfielders and play a major role in coaching the offense - both hitting and baserunning.

PITCHING COACH: KURT HAAKENSTAD (3rd SEASON)

Kurt Haakenstad returns to the staff in 2024, and will manage the pitchers in the entire program, with a focus on the Varsity club. Haakenstad, an '07 grad, pitched and played outfield at Lake Washington HS prior to a stint at Edmonds CC.

Junior Varsity

HEAD COACH: CRAIG SWEET (6th season)

Craig Sweet has been on the Kangs staff since 2019, and this season will be his third  as the head JV coach, along with being the primary catching coach in the program. He is a 2011 graduate of Sammamish HS, playing in the KingCo conference as an opponent of Lake Washington.

ASST. COACH: parker wikel (2nd season)

Parker Wikel joined the coaching staff in 2023, and will return in 2024 as an assistant at the JV level. A member of the 2016 State Championship team, Wikel also is a member of the Kangs football coaching staff.

C-Team

head COACH: j.j. keller (1st year)

Coach Keller joins the staff in 2024 as the Head Coach of the C-Team. J.J. is also a teacher at Lake Washington HS, teaching 9th & 10th grade English.