COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced two promotions and three additions to the Club’s First Team Staff. Head Athletic Trainer Chris Shenberger has been promoted to Head of Sport Science & Medicine, while Head Equipment Manager David Brauzer has been promoted to Manager of Equipment Operations. The Crew also announced the additions of Daniel Hicker (Director of Performance), Chris Rumsey (Head Athletic Trainer) and Blair Gavin (First Team Video Coach Analyst).
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In his new position as Head of Sport Science & Medicine, Shenberger will lead the entire sports science, performance and medical departments for the Club. Shenberger has spent the last three seasons as Head Athletic Trainer with the Crew. He joined the Black & Gold as an Assistant Athletic Trainer ahead of the 2017 MLS season after spending four years at Northwestern University as the Associate Athletic Trainer for the Men’s Soccer Team.
Currently in his 17th season in Major League Soccer, Brauzer has spent the last five seasons as Head Equipment Manager for Crew SC. In his new role as Manager of Equipment Operations, Brauzer will be leading a newly formed club-wide Equipment Operations department that will progress to oversee First Team, second team and academy equipment operations. Previously, Brauzer held the same role at D.C. United from 2008-2016 and was named the 2014 MLS Equipment Manager of the Year.
Hicker, Crew SC’s new Director of Performance, joins the Club from the San Jose Earthquakes, where he served as the team’s Head of Athletic Performance & First Team Strength Coach. Hicker joined San Jose as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2017. His previous experience includes working for U.S. Soccer, the San Jose Sharks and Santa Clara University.
Rumsey joins the Crew from the Houston Dynamo, where he worked from 2016-2020. He originally joined Houston as an Assistant Athletic Trainer before being promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in 2018. Rumsey will fill the position of Head Athletic Trainer, which was left vacant by Shenberger. A native of Gahanna, he played collegiate soccer for Capital University from 2004-2007.
Gavin joins Crew SC from Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship, where he spent the last three seasons as an Assistant Coach. Prior to that, Gavin played soccer professionally from 2010-2017, including lacing-up for Chivas USA, the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC. Blair also played soccer collegiately, featuring for the University of Akron from 2007-2009.
The Black & Gold are currently in Chula Vista, California for the 2021 preseason before traveling to Orlando, Florida on March 21. Following the training camp in Orlando, the Crew opens the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League on the road on April 8 against Nicaraguan side Real Esteli FC in the First Leg of the Round of 16, before hosting Real Esteli at home for the Second Leg on April 15. The Black & Gold are set to kick-off the 2021 MLS regular season in April with the League’s campaign beginning April 17. A complete MLS schedule is set to be announced by MLS in the near future as the Club prepares to move into New Crew Stadium this July.
Supporters interested in learning more about purchasing 2021 Season Ticket Memberships should visit CrewStadium.com, where they can see the view from each seat location along with the benefits of each section. Fans can also schedule their own private virtual tour of the New Crew Stadium with a Crew SC ticket representative.
