The D.C. United front office has a couple of familiar faces in new roles, as the club announced two changes Friday morning.
Dave Sanford and Gus Teren, who have both been with the club since at least 2014, have respectively been named to the academy director and technical director roles. They’re set to work alongside Dave Kasper, general manager and VP of soccer operations, to better produce Homegrown players for the first team.
Ahead of the 2019 season, D.C. United launched Loudoun United, a USL Championship side that plays at Segra Field in Leesburg, Va.
"Both Dave and Gus care greatly about the club and the academy, having served as coaches for over 10 years between the two of them," Kasper said in a release. "They know the club intimately and are well-prepared to move the academy forward. Gus and Dave have complementary skill sets and will work side-by-side in both the technical and administrative efforts of our academy, with a commitment to identify, develop and advance players through our club model."
Sanford joined D.C.’s academy in 2009 and has been the Academy Manager for the last five years, coaching from the U-12s up through the U-19s.
“I’m excited and eager to take on the challenge of being the Academy Director for D.C. United," Sanford said in a release. "I have been a part of the organization for over a decade and I’m committed to continuing our progress towards becoming one of the best academies in the United States. Our goal is to keep producing well-rounded players that eventually make the jump up to contributing to our first team. I want to thank Dave Kasper and the rest of the club for this great opportunity.”
Teren joined D.C.’s academy in 2014 and has since coached the U-13, U-14 and U-15 teams. He was also an assistant coach for Loudoun United.
“This is a great opportunity to continue improving our academy as we take aim at becoming one of the leading clubs in youth development in the country," Teren said in a release. "I’ve seen a lot of growth at the club in the last year with the new stadium and the introduction of our USL Championship affiliate team, Loudoun United FC. We have all the tools necessary for success and our goal is to produce more Homegrown players in one of the most talented regions in the US. I want to thank Dave Kasper and the club for entrusting Dave and myself to propel the academy forward in the next chapter."
