VERDE & BLACK... The Official Austin FC Podcast

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: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dave Tenney on LinkedIn Dave Tenney on Twitter Austin FC

Today we are joined by a young player with an extraordinarily humble, grounded mindset. Daniel Pereira wears the number six jersey for Austin FC and in this episode, we hear about his much anticipated first goal for the team! Dani fills us in on how he celebrated the win and how a photo of his goal made it into the Louvre via an Austin FC fan. Dani has made impressive progress from his first year into his second and he talks us through the steps of his development. We also hear some insights into his upbringing in Venezuela, his family’s move to the US, and his path to being drafted! Tune in to learn more about this promising player, from his football idols to his favorite stadiums, and so much more. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Daniel Pereira Daniel Pereira on Twitter Daniel Pereira on Instagram Verde and Black Podcast Austin FC Swish Dental PointsBet Adrian Healey on Twitter Adrian Healey on Instagram

Welcome back to another edition of Verde and Black! With us in conversation today we have Davy Arnaud, Assistant Coach at Austin FC. We dive right in with Davy sharing his thoughts on the team’s position in comparison to last year, before talking layer dynamics, and Davy’s thoughts on Danny Pereira and Sebastian Driussi. Hear about his main goal for every game: predicting the opponent’s strategy and acting accordingly. We chat reflecting, tweaking, and game management, before asking Davy about his relationship with Josh, which spans more than 20 years. Finally, you’ll hear about his fondest memories from his career as a player and a coach, and why he speaks so highly of Austin FC. Thanks for tuning in!

There is so much crucial work that goes on behind the scenes at a club, and today we shed some light on what some of that looks like. We are joined by Austin FC's very own Director of Sporting Operations, Andrew DiLallo! Andrew is kind enough to give us a real insider peek at what his job entails, talking about what he oversees, and how all the organizational pieces come together and contribute to team results. We also look back at Andrew's path to his current role, his days playing soccer in college, and how he made his way to Austin. Our guest makes sure to emphasize why relationships, with the players, the other staff, and even other clubs are so vital to his work, and we also reflect on the lifestyle associated with this type of work. Towards the end of the episode, Andrew even shares a little about the under-the-radar indoor team he is currently playing for, so make sure to stay tuned for that!

For this rendition of Verde and Black, we are so happy to finally be joined by Austin’s spectacular Video Performance Analyst, Sam Lawson. Sam has had quite a journey in the space and he talks about the influence of football on his youth growing up in Germany which led to him discovering his passion for video analysis thereafter. We hear about how he cut his teeth in the field through experiences thereafter in the UK, New Zealand, and a role in collegiate sports in Missouri, USA. He gets into his later positions in US soccer involving a stint at the Olympics and an MLS job with Minnesota United, talking about the many learnings he had during this time before finally taking up the position with Austin FC. In our conversation, we talk about what exactly a Video Performance Analyst does, the methods used to capture and assess footage, and the vital role they play in preparing the team for games as well as developing them as a whole. Sam also shares his thoughts on why he decided to join Austin, the growth he has witnessed in the team since he joined, and how his methods of analysis are being recognized as some of the best in the business. For all this and more, tune in today!

Welcome back to the Verde & Black podcast! Today we will be kicking off season two in the best way with Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff. Year one was filled with many learnings for the Austin team and we spend today hearing Josh's thoughts about the changes he has made and what the new season will bring. He talks about recent additions to the team and the effects they will have on team spirit and vital positions that were missing from the field last time around. We get into the spirit of parity at MLS, the role of consistency in success, and Josh’s thoughts on why many of Austin’s best games were against strong teams. Josh also talks about how his relationship with the game has changed as his roles have, and he shares his thoughts on his sons as they work their way into their own careers in the space. Wrapping up, Josh answers a round of listener questions, talking about his favorite game ever, off-season improvements, and a bunch of other good stuff. Tune in today and make sure you come back for the rest of the brilliant shows we have lined up for season two!

After an impressive performance and wonderful goal against LA Galaxy, McKinze Gaines has been the name on the lips of many Austin FC fans recently. Today we host a fun conversation with the new forward and get a little of his background, career path, and his ideas about his place in the team in the future. McKinze tells us about his time in Germany, some of the important points and decisions that he and his parents made, and why he is so excited to be back in his hometown now! Like any player, McKinze has had to deal with difficulties too, touching injuries and challenging periods of less game time, and hearing about this really adds perspective to the experience that fans might have of the professional soccer player. So to hear it all from an exciting up-and-coming talent on our team, listen in with us today!

On today’s episode, we are bringing you double trouble with Diego Fagundez and Hector Jimenez. You’ll hear why Diego considers being a professional soccer player to be the best job in the world, and how he wants to pass his passion on to his two children. He reveals the best and worst parts of his career, and the story of how he was approached to play for Austin FC. We also ask Diego what it felt like to score the first goal in club history, and he tells us why he wants to play for as long as his body allows him to. We talk fitness, connecting with fans, and his hope for the next season with Austin FC. Hector tells the story of why he has chosen to live in Mueller, what he loves about living his childhood dream, and why he believes that things will change for the better if the team continues to work hard. He tells us about the values that have given him the reputation of being fantastic in a locker room, and the players whose behavior he emulates. Hector also shares with us that continuity is the magic element that has made teams successful, and why he believes there’s still time for the season to turn around during the upcoming 11 games. We hope you tune in today to hear all this and more!

For today’s episode, we are in conversation with NFL legend and Austin FC fan and supporter, Marshall Newhouse, and Austin FC broadcaster, Michael Lahoud. You’ll hear about Marshall’s experience of being a full-blown fan for the first time, and Michael lets us in on the instant insight he observed Marshall having from the first whistle. Marshall gives us his assessment of the past year at Austin FC and tells us why he believes you have to have a larger perspective of what it takes to win, before telling us what the difference is between soccer crowds and football crowds. He explains how his passion for watching soccer was ignited on a pre-world cup school trip in 2006, why offensive line is such a unique and misunderstood position, and how that is changing before we touch on the relationship between football and soccer, with Steven Jackson following the US team across South Africa during the 2010 world cup as a prime example of this. Finally, Marshall tells us how he defines a truly great sports organization: by the attitudes of the owners and the temperaments and qualities of their hires. We hope you join us!

Any good soccer team is built on a sturdy defense, and today we host one of the pillars of Austin FC's reliable back line, Matt Besler! We have a great conversation with the defender, hearing about his arrival in Austin, first impressions of the city and the club, and the immediate connection he felt to the supporters and the soccer culture in Austin. Matt also comments on what it has meant playing professionally for as long as he has, and the benefits of experience and growing in mental strength. We get into some thoughts about how reading the game becomes more of a part of a defender's acumen as the years go on, and Matt emphasizes why Austin's future successes will be so dependent on the stability of its defense. From there we talk about the room left to grow in attack, and the amazing coaching staff that Matt is happy to work with, and why Matt is not putting an expiry date on his career! For the last part of our conversation, Matt shares some of his insights on being a new resident in Austin, answering questions about the vibe of the city, barbecue, live music, and much more. For all this from our rock-solid center back, be sure to listen in!

As you know, we at Verde & Black are trying to chart the history of Austin FC’s first year as a club. Part of that entails expanding the focus of the podcast beyond soccer to include other el-ements from the city of Austin, including cultural elements and even other sporting elements. Today, we welcome our first representative from a different sport, professional golfer, Dylan Frittelli. For those of you who don’t follow golf, Dylan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and attended the University of Texas where, as a senior, he sank the putt that won the Longhorns their first National Championship in 40 years. He has been working his way up the world rankings of professional golf ever since, currently ranked number 80 in the world. Dylan is fresh off a fifth-place finish at the British Open. He also finished fifth at the Masters Tournament last November, won the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour in 2019, and had many successes on the European Tour prior to that. In today’s episode, we talk about some of the crossovers between golf and soccer, Dylan’s enthusiastic support for Austin FC, and his advice for parents with young, sporty kids, as well as what he loves about living in Austin. Tune in today for a fun and informal discussion with pro golfer and Austin FC supporter, Dylan Frittelli!

In today’s episode of Verde and Black, we change things up and get together with two of Austin FC’s attacking players, Jon Gallagher and Jared Stroud. Both players share surprising similarities in their careers and physique, including being the same age and signing up with Austin FC within days of one another. Tuning in you’ll hear Jon and Jared reflect on their experiences playing a variety of positions, as well as which ones they prefer depending on the context. We discuss their transition to Austin, Texas, and why the weather, food, fans, and people have made it a wonderful experience. Later, Jon and Jared unpack the current system of play and explain why they are both excited about it as attacking players. Hear about their formative experiences growing up in different countries and how they first realized they had potential careers in professional soccer. We also discuss how both players signed onto Austin FC after the start of the COVID 19 pandemic and reflect on their experiences playing in empty stadiums. We loved having Jon and Jared on the show, and can’t wait to see how their careers continue from here. For all this and much more, tune in today!

Brad Stuver is undoubtedly the player of the first two months at Austin FC. In today’s episode, he gives us an overview of the first couple of months of the season, tells us about his experience playing for Austin FC, and the journey it took to get there. We talk about the unique expectations that supporters have of goalkeepers in comparison with other players and he tells us about how his training prepared him to play for Austin FC. Next, he tells us about his heroes growing up, Brad Friedel and Casey Keller, and reveals what it was like working with Montreal and Columbus. We touch on the MLS Cup and Brad shares how he experienced his two debut games and changing clubs in 2017. He tells us why goalkeepers seem to have a stronger bond with one another than outfield players and he gives us the details of how the move to Austin came to fruition, as well as how he gives back with the Laundry Project and how he has been involved with Pride Month. He also gives us a glimpse into what it feels like to walk out onto a stadium for that opening kick. In closing, he tells us about the best save he’s made, his worst mistake on the field, and the closest he has come to scoring a goal. We hope you join us for a glimpse into the world of Brad Stuver, who is undoubtedly thus far, the player of the season!

On today’s episode, we speak with Sean Rubio, Director of Player Personnel at Austin FC about the ins and outs of player acquisition, analytics, and communication. We launch our episode by exploring the three stages of the player acquisition process; identification, recruitment, and negotiation. Sean tells us a bit about his background and education leading up to developing his expertise in the analytics side of soccer. He talks about his work with coaches and tells us about a call from Tim Bezbatchenko that changed everything. Next, we touch on how the club’s failure in 2016 was channeled into 2017’s success, Sean tells us about the competitiveness and grit required to succeed at Austin FC and highlights the importance of communication. Following this, Sean tells us why he thinks tracking data is the next frontier and gives us his insights on how soccer is changing due to analytics. We talk about salary caps and Sean tells us why he thinks the Beckham rule is effective. We dive into player metrics and answer the question of why each deal is different. Sean tells us how the league differs from what he originally envisioned and gives us the inside scoop on the next transfer period. Lastly, Sean tells us a bit about his long-reaching goals for MLS, Austin FC, and himself. Tune in for an action-packed peek into the analytics of Austin FC today.

In today’s episode, we get together with Nick Lima, who plays as a defender for Austin FC. We talk with Nick about his career thus far and growing up in Castro Valley. Nick first started playing soccer at the tender age of three and his love for the game was nurtured by competing with his older brothers. Tuning in, listeners will hear about his original plan to pursue football. Hear about how he decided to forego a football scholarship at an Ivy League school by prioritizing his education and asking himself which sport he truly enjoys, no matter the difficulty or pressure. Later we talk with Nick about moving to Austin and how he’s had no trouble adjusting to the lifestyle, culture, and food. We also dig into what it’s been like playing for an expansion team, how they’ve been able to build team identity, and how that work has benefited their performance on the field. For all this and much more, make sure you tune in today!

In Episode 5 of Verde & Black, we sat down with Austin FC Academy General Manager Tyson Wahl to discuss his playing career, the beginnings of the Austin FC Academy and the future of Austin FC. Tyson and host, Adrian Healey, discussed Tyson's journey from UC Berkeley to Austin FC and all the stops in between. Later, they talked about starting the Academy and how important it is in connecting the next generation to Austin FC. We discuss all of this and so much more in this week's episode.

Today’s episode of Verde & Black is a very special one because, for the first time, we are going to widen our lens to include the whole city of Austin in all its cultural diversity! You can look forward to future episodes like this but, for our first installment, we’re talking to Nané, a high-energy six-piece indie rock outfit from our very own ATX. We have used their music in some of our broadcasts and marketing campaigns and, for this episode, we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with lead singer, Daniel Sahad, and guitarist, Ian Green, about the origins of the band, how it is influenced by the unique and diverse energy of the city of Austin, and the common thread that runs throughout all their music, as well as the seemingly organic connections between music and soccer. All this and more in the first installment of Verde & Black’s cultural segments on the city of Austin, so make sure to tune in today.

After speaking to Austin FC head coach, Josh Wolff, and the club’s founder, majority owner, and CEO, Anthony Precourt, we thought it fitting that our next guest be Austin FC Captain, Alex Ring! In today’s episode, we talk through Alex’s impressive career, from playing soccer in Finland as a child and ultimately playing for Finland in 2011 to joining MLS in the United States in 2017 and what led him to ultimately become the captain of Austin FC. Hear how Alex’s career led him to cross paths with Danny Hoesen, the influence that Claudio Reyna had on his career, and when he first realized he was going to go pro, as well as his memories from some of the most profound matches of his career. He talks candidly about the impact of the pandemic on the sport and the importance of the fans. All this and so much more in today’s episode, so make sure to tune in today.

In this episode, Anthony Precourt, the club's founder, majority owner and CEO joins Adrian to talk about his ownership style and how he balances being involved and stepping back. He offers his views on the MLS landscape in 2021 and why, even though the pandemic has disrupted the league, he has remained optimistic about its growth going forward. We dive into some of the Austin FC dynamics specifically, where we hear how the various teams and major hires came to be. As an owner, Anthony understands the importance of hiring those at the top of their game, and he has worked hard to ensure that this is a reality for the club. Seeing as Austin FC is still in its infancy, the academy will be key to sustained growth, and Anthony sheds light on just how valuable it will be to put time and resources into it. Wrapping up our conversation, we hear about all the things Anthony loves about Austin, along with his hopes for the club going into the future.