Frisco, Texas (April 20, 2021) – FC Dallas announced today movements within the Soccer Operations department as well as within North Texas SC’s staff. Former North Texas SC Performance Coach Ardy Vahidtari joins the first team as Assistant Physical Performance Coach and former North Texas SC Athletic Trainer Kwan Lee joins the first team as Assistant Athletic Trainer. North Texas adds Tanner Holley as the North Texas SC Soccer Operations Manager and Juan Rios as Head Athletic Trainer.
Vahidtari joins the first team after two seasons with North Texas SC. Vahidtari was a volunteer coach in the FC Dallas Academy for two years before becoming the Athletic Performance Coach for North Texas SC in its inaugural season in 2019. He was born in Tehran, Iran before immigrating to Texas and playing in the FC Dallas youth system prior to attending Marymount California University where he received a degree in business management and a minor in sports science. Vahidtari holds a PES (Physical Enhance Specialist) certification as well as a U.S. Soccer Federation “B” Coaching License.
Lee begins his first season as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the first team. He was previously the North Texas Soccer Club Head Athletic Trainer during the 2020 season and helped managed the FC Dallas Academy in 2019. Before joining FC Dallas, Lee was the Rehabilitation Outreach Trainer at Texas Christian University. He finished his Master of Science degree at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX and obtained a double bachelor’s degree at Gachon University in Seongnam, South Korea in Sport Medicine and Food Nutrition. A native from South Korean, Lee also served two years in the South Korean Army as a medic.
Holley joins the North Texas SC staff after two years as the FC Dallas Academy Administrator. He was born and raised in Plano, TX and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Finance in 2016. Holley continued his education at Texas A&M to pursue his Masters in Sports Management. Holley interned with FC Dallas during the summer of 2016 as a Ticket Sales intern and then returned the following summer as a Team Operations intern for the first team.
Juan Rios enters his first season with North Texas SC as Head Athletic Trainer. Prior to joining the 2019 USL League One title winners, Rios worked with the FC Dallas Academy. He also worked two seasons with the Dallas Sidekicks in the Major Arena Soccer League for two seasons. Rios earned his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Union University in 2014 and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University in 2016 where he covered the men's soccer, lacrosse, and hockey programs.
FC Dallas faces San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday, April 24 at 2:30PM CT. The match will broadcast nationally on Univision, TUDN and Twitter (in English). You can also listen to Mark Followill and Steve Davis on FCDallas.com/Radio and Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon in Spanish on TUDN 1270AM.
North Texas SC kicks off its 2021 USL League One season on Saturday, April 24 against Fort Lauderdale CF at 7:30PM CT at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The match will stream on ESPN+.
