Atlanta United announced on Monday they have hired MLS, NBA, and NCAA sports performance veteran David Tenney as their “Director of High Performance.” Tenney brings over 20 years of sports science expertise to the Five Stripes, most recently four years with Austin FC. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Orlando Magic, eight years with the Seattle Sounders, and a couple of years with Sporting Kansas City. He’ll be replacing head of sports science Ryan Alexander.
“We’re excited to welcome David to the club as Director of High Performance,” Atlanta United
President and CEO Garth Lagerwey said. “Considered a leader in our industry, David brings 20
years of experience in elite sports performance during which he worked for multiple MLS teams
and across multiple different sports. He will oversee the club’s performance department that
includes the First Team, Atlanta United 2 and the club’s Academy.”
Fans may remember one of the hallmarks of Austin FC’s early play, including their strong run in 2022, was their aptitude for consistent pressing and the stamina it required. David Tenney would be high on the list of folks to thank for their player’s abilities to push into that extra gear – and stay healthy doing so. He was also a part of the Orlando Magic’s first two playoff runs since 2012 after his arrival in central Florida.
From Atlanta’s press release:
Tenney led the sports performance department with Seattle Sounders for nine seasons (2009-
2017), ultimately promoted as High Performance Director for the 2017 season. While with the
Sounders, the team reached two MLS Cups, winning in 2016, four U.S. Open Cups (2009-2012),
winning three, and made the MLS Playoffs in all nine seasons with the club. Also, while with
Seattle, Tenney created the Sounders Sports Science Summit, which became a leading sports
science conference.
Prior to joining the Sounders, Tenney served as both Fitness and Goalkeeper Coach with
Sporting Kansas City (then Kansas City Wizards) for two 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 soccer teams for two 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 Washington Freedom SC.
Welcome to Atlanta, David!
[…] been able to bring in guys like Javier Perez as Director of Methodology back in the summer, David Tenney as Director of High Performance last week, and now Chris Henderson as Chief of Soccer Operations/Sporting Director. Cap that off with an […]
I thought this is what a Coach was suppose to do?
Seems like Garth is hiring another guy he knows from Seattle. Hopefully, there will be a lot of high performance to direct.
I wonder how much of this hire is to prevent the crazy injury laden seasons we’ve had all too often of late.
in regards to that, it would be very interesting to find out of the teams he worked with had a lower than average injury incidence.