The Columbus Crew today announced that it has hired Steve Tashjian as High Performance Director, joining Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s staff effective immediately. Per club and MLS policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In a move that showcases the club’s continued investment in becoming an industry leader in the fields of performance and sports science, the Crew becomes one of just two teams in Major League Soccer to have a professional on staff in a similar role. Renowned for being the lone American in the same role in the Barclays Premier League for half of a decade, Tashjian is tasked with continuing to develop peak performance, health and wellness, sport science, strength and conditioning and recovery for the club.
“We think Steve is extremely qualified and one of the best in the business,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “Through data and analytics, Steve is able to get a complete picture of where the athlete is on a daily basis, and that's through everything from their nutrition, hydration, fatigue, from their performance on the training field, from where they are on a rehab standpoint. It's a total picture of the individual athlete every day. The hire shows the commitment on ownership's part to make this a player-first organization, and I feel it’s an important step in building our structure.”
Tashjian joins the Crew from Barclays Premier League side Everton Football Club, where he served for five years as the Head of Sports Science and Conditioning and Director of End Stage Rehabilitation. During his time at Everton, Tashjian became well known for his innovative approach to player monitoring and performance development. While serving the club, Everton never finished outside the top eight Premiership positions, qualifying in 2009-2010 for the UEFA Europa League, appearing in the 2011-2012 FA Cup semifinal and finishing fifth in the Premier League in 2013-2014. During his tenure, Tashjian worked with a list of elite players including Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Tim Cahill, Louis Saha, Phil Neville, Steven Pienaar, Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baines.
From 2007 to 2009, Tashjian served as Assistant Coach and Head of Fitness, Director of End Stage Rehabilitation and Reconditioning with the Crew. He was a part of Sigi Schmid’s staff that led the Black & Gold to Columbus’ first professional championship with the 2008 MLS Cup squad, and was a part of back-to-back Supporters’ Shield wins in 2008 and 2009 in addition to the club’s 2009 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal berth.
Tashjian’s clinical experience began in 2002 as Physical Therapist and Strength and Conditioning Coach in Pasadena, California at the Competitive Athlete Training Zone (CATZ), assisting with the off-season training program for the LA Galaxy. In 2003, he left his position with CATZ to become Co-Owner and Director of Athletic Performance at Rehab United Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Center in San Diego, California, working with elite amateur, Olympic and professional athletes from multiple sports.
As an Assistant Coach, Head of Fitness and later a consultant for Azusa Pacific University from 2006-2008, he helped the university to a 2007 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship as well as runner-up honors with the women in 2007 and the men in 2006.
A licensed Physical Therapist, Tashjian is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
The Crew returns home for the first tilt in a two-match homestand when the club hosts the New England Revolution on Saturday, September 20 (7:30 p.m. ET / Time Warner Cable SportsChannel).
