Utah Soccer Names Dave Tenney Senior Director of High Performance
MLS Real Salt Lake

Utah Soccer Names Dave Tenney Senior Director of High Performance

Published on January 16, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


HERRIMAN, Utah - Utah Soccer President of Soccer Operations Jason Kreis - overseeing Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer), Utah Royals FC (National Women's Soccer League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro) and the RSL Academy - today named highly-respected sports medicine veteran Dave Tenney as the Club's Senior Director of Player Health & Performance.

"Dave Tenney is widely regarded in the landscape of professional sports as a leader and innovator in the field of health and performance," said Kreis, as the Club welcomes the Utah Royals' players return to Utah and RSL travels to Portugal for The Atlantic Cup. "We are absolutely delighted to be adding someone of his stature and experience to our clubs. He will offer leadership, mentorship, and alignment within all our platforms, and he will help us to surround our players with an elite performance environment. He belongs here."

In this newly-created front office position, Tenney will apply his two decades-plus of industry experience in overseeing the Club's sports science, strength and conditioning, athletic training, nutrition, mental health and medical protocols for athletes across all three professional sides and the trio of amateur programs.

"I want to thank Jason and the Miller family for presenting me the opportunity to take on this role," said Tenney, upon his Utah arrival Thursday. "This role represents a unique opportunity in American soccer - overseeing the health and performance infrastructure across Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC, Real Monarchs and the Academy system.

"Jason Kreis has crafted a vision that directly addresses the comprehensive needs of the professional player," continued Tenney, who also spent several seasons working alongside RSL Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid during their time in Seattle. "From my first conversations with him and the Miller family, it became clear that we share a unified strategy for building something exceptional in Utah. The alignment in values, long-term ambition, and commitment to grow soccer in the community made this the right next step in my career."

In exchange for the rights to employ Tenney, Real Salt Lake agreed to terms with Atlanta United FC, compensating the MLS club for the release of their former Director of High Performance.

Tenney arrives in Utah after joining Atlanta in December of 2024, after five seasons at Austin FC. Prior to his time with Austin (2020-2024), Tenney spent three years with the NBA Orlando Magic (2017-2020) following a combined 11 years in MLS with Seattle Sounders FC (2009-2017) and Sporting Kansas City (2007-2008).

In late November, RSL's 2026 schedule was revealed, with the Club's America First Field venue in Sandy slated to welcome global soccer icon Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF to Utah for the first - and perhaps only - occasion on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Join the 2026 RSL ticketing waitlist at www.RSL.com/tickets.

The Claret-and-Cobalt also released its complete 2026 preseason slate, various key dates during the celebratory 2026 FIFA World Cup year, and most importantly, the entire 34-game MLS regular season schedule (17 home games, 17 away in MLS), which features multiple international soccer legends who are expected to visit Sandy throughout 2026.

Top visiting athletes in addition to Messi and Co. expected to provide highly-anticipated moments include: Korean superstar Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club, Sept. 5), German trophy king Thomas Müller(Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Sept. 19), beloved Mexican cult figure Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC, April 18) and another storied German star, Marco Reus (LA Galaxy, Nov. 7).

RSL's complete 2026 regular season schedule is available at www.RSL.com.

Players, coaches and staff report this week ahead of the Club's Jan. 12 preseason, which will feature 2026 preseason matches in Portugal and Southern California, as The Atlantic Cup tournament organizers and Coachella Valley schedule-makers solidified various slates.

Returning to Lagos, Portugal, where it had spent a portion of the 2024 preseason, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni's side will play three games over 13 days in the back half of January as part of the annual Atlantic Cup tourney, with the first two matches against legendary Danish sides Randers FC (Jan. 22) - once home to former RSL striker Yura Movsisyan - and Brøndby (Jan. 26), a side also connected to David Blitzer's Global Football Holdings. RSL will conclude its Iberian peninsula experience against fellow MLS Western Conference foe FC Dallas (Jan. 30), before competing its 24-hour door-to-door travels, returning to Utah on Feb. 1

After spending the first week of February back in Utah, the Claret-and-Cobalt then wrap up its 22nd preseason slate with two games in Southern California, facing off against newly-transferred DF Kobi Henry 's former USL Championship side, Orange County SC (Feb. 7), as well as MLS Cup 2024 champions LA Galaxy (Feb. 13), the latter match being played outside of Palm Springs, Calif.

RSL then kicks off its 2026 Major League Soccer campaign on Sat., Feb. 21 at B.C. Place, home of the reigning Western Conference champion, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, one week prior to the Claret-and-Cobalt's 2026 home opener at America First Field against long-time rival Seattle Sounders FC on Sat., Feb. 28. Both of RSL's February games kick off at 5:30p MT, with season ticket and four-game packages available at www.RSL.com/tickets.

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