AUSTIN, Texas – Austin FC, the 27th Club in Major League Soccer (MLS), today announced that David Tenney has joined the Club as High Performance Director. Tenney joins Austin FC after three (3) years as the first High Performance Director for the NBA’s Orlando Magic (2017-2020) following eleven (11) seasons in MLS. During Tenney’s stewardship of the Magic’s high performance department, the Magic made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2012.
“I’m pleased to welcome David to Austin FC as High Performance Director,” said Claudio Reyna, Austin FC Sporting Director. “David brings a wealth of major league sport experience, including several successful seasons in MLS, and a long history in soccer in the U.S. and internationally, which will serve our Club and our players very well.”
“I’m excited to start work with Austin FC, and to be part of the Soccer Operations team Claudio Reyna and Josh Wolff are building in what I already know is a fantastic city,” added David Tenney. “Having experienced winning an MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cups, alongside reaching the MLS Playoffs in multiple seasons, I know what it takes to win. I look forward to bringing that experience to Austin FC and helping build a world-class culture of performance within the state-of-the-art facilities presently under construction in Austin.”
Tenney joined Orlando Magic after nine (9) seasons (2009-17) with the Seattle Sounders, serving as High Performance Director for the 2017 season after previous stints as Sports Science & Performance Manager (2015-16) and Head Fitness Coach (2009-14). While with the Sounders, the team won MLS Cup (2016), the U.S. Open Cup four (4) times (2009-12), and made the MLS Playoffs in nine (9) consecutive years (2009-17). During his time in Seattle, Tenney created the Sounders Sports Science Summit, which has become a leading sports science conference. Prior to joining the Sounders, Tenney served as both Fitness and Goalkeeper coach with Sporting Kansas City (then known as the Kansas City Wizards) for two (2) seasons (2007 - 2008).
Before joining Sporting Kansas City, Tenney held the same dual role of Goalkeeper Coach and Head Fitness Coach with the George Mason University men’s and women’s teams for two (2) seasons (2004-2006). In 2006, the George Mason men’s team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. During that period, Tenney served as the Director of Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the state of Maryland, while also serving as the head of fitness and youth technical director for the Washington Freedom SC.
Tenney played collegiate soccer at Virginia Tech (the Hokies) from 1989-91, serving as team captain during his final two seasons. As goalkeeper, he was voted Metro Conference Tournament Defensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1989. Additionally, Tenney played for several lower division teams in Germany and with various U.S. indoor soccer teams, ending his career with the Baltimore Blast (1998- 2000) of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).
Tenney earned a Master’s degree in Exercise Science-performance enhancement from California University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s degree in Coaching Science from George Mason University. He also holds a Czech Republic ‘A’ coaching license. He is also a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) performance enhancement specialist and a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership from Ashford University.
