Performance is rarely, if ever, about one thing in isolation. Athletes, coaches, and management teams need to be aware of all of the physiological and psychological factors that can have an impact on a team’s competition performances. Today’s guest believes that it is only when all these factors come together and work as a cohesive, collaborative system that excellence in high-performance sport is possible. Dave Tenney is the High Performance Director for Austin FC and has spent almost two decades in elite performance roles in the MLS and the NBA. Prior to joining Austin FC in their 2021 expansion year, he spent time in high-performance leadership roles with the Orlando Magic and the Seattle Sounders. Dave has dedicated the last 15 years of his career to the evolution of high-performance sport and, in today’s episode, he shares some of the challenges that come with building a high-performance department that can support not only the needs of the athletes, but coaches and management too. Tuning in, you’ll gain some insight into Austin FC’s complex, dynamic coaching methodology and Dave’s belief that, in order to for the team to excel, they have to constantly adapt and grow. We also reflect on the key roles that recovery and climate play when it comes to performance, plus so much more! Make sure not to miss this fascinating discussion with Austin FC High Performance Director, Dave Tenney! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How a High Performance Director makes coaching, medical, and fitness one cohesive group.
• Insight into what an average week in Dave’s life looks like.
• An understanding of the coaching methodology known as tactical periodization.
• Dave reflects on maximizing a players fitness and ability to perform versus preventing injury.
• The key importance of collaboration between coaches, athletes, and medical staff.
• Why assessing the recovery of players between games is critical.
• The role climate plays in performance and how Dave exploits the heat and humidity in Austin.
• Dave’s perspective on the evolution of the Austin FC team from year one to year two.
• His experience of working with two very different coaches like Sigi Schmid and Josh Wolff. 
• Some of the data points that Dave evaluates when it comes to recruiting players.
• Quantifying a player’s athletic and tactical ability depending on their position.
• How Dave believes high-performance sport staffs are going to evolve going forward.
• What soccer can learn from other sports; Dave’s key takeaways from his time with the NBA.
• What Dave learned from his own career as a soccer player prior to becoming a coach.
• How one change in the ecosystem of an organization can have a massive ripple effect that might not be recognized until it’s too late.
• Some of the things that Dave loves about living in Austin with his family.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dave Tenney on LinkedIn

Dave Tenney on Twitter

Austin FC