Episode #74- Dr. David Tenney, Director- High Performance, Austin FC (MLS franchise), Austin, Texas

Dr. David Tenney is the High Performance Director for Austin FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has 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.  He joined Austin FC after three years as the first High Performance Director for the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Orlando Magic (2017-2020) following 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. Tenney joined the Orlando Magic after nine seasons (2009-2017) with the Seattle Sounders, serving as High Performance Director for the 2017 season, after previous stints as Sports Science & Performance Manager (2015-2016) and Head Fitness Coach (2009-2014). While with the Sounders, the team won the MLS Cup (2016), the U.S. Open Cup four times (2009-2012), and made the MLS Playoffs in nine consecutive years (2009-2017). 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 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 National Collegiate Athletic Association (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 1989-1991, 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 earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Arizona Global Campus in 2022.