Austin FC Academy
Tax status: for-profit (operated by Austin FC Holdings LLC, MLS franchise)
Overview
The youth development arm of Austin FC (MLS, joined 2021), based at the St. David’s Performance Center — a $45 million, privately funded, state-of-the-art training facility in North Austin. The academy fields teams from U12 to U17, with five age groups competing in MLS Next, and teams represented Austin at MLS Next Fest (U15, U16, U18). The academy is still in its early institutional years, having launched its first competitive cohort in the 2022-23 season.
Austin FC Academy collaborates with several prominent local soccer clubs to identify and nurture promising players, with Lonestar SC serving as a key talent pipeline into the Academy’s scouting funnel.
Financials
Academy operates as part of Austin FC LLC (MLS franchise). No standalone nonprofit filing. The $45M St. David’s Performance Center represents significant infrastructure investment. Academy costs are embedded in Austin FC’s private club financials. (LOW)
Teams & Players
- U12 (Academy tier, non-MLS Next Homegrown)
- U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 — Compete in MLS Next
- Academy teams represented Austin at MLS Next Fest (U15, U16, U18)
Homegrown Players (through 2025):
- Owen Wolff — first Homegrown signing, now with Austin FC II (MLS Next Pro)
- Micah Burton — Homegrown, competing at Austin FC II level
- Ervin Torres — signed Homegrown contract through 2028 (two one-year options); third Austin FC Academy product to sign pro; now at Austin FC II alongside Bryan Arellano and Anthony De Anda
League Affiliations
- MLS NEXT Homegrown Division — U13–U17 (primary pathway)
- MLS Next Fest competition (national showcase event)
- Direct pathway to Austin FC II (MLS Next Pro) and Austin FC (MLS)
Facilities
- St. David’s Performance Center — $45M facility, privately funded. State-of-the-art training center shared with Austin FC MLS first team. Located near Parmer Pond in North Austin. Purpose-built soccer complex with multiple full-size pitches, indoor training, and sports science infrastructure.
Leadership
- Dr. Juan L. Delgado Bordonau — Academy Technical Director. Oversees the academy’s training methodology and player development program.
- Tyson Wahl — Academy General Manager. Manages operations, scheduling, and logistics across all age groups.
- Jason Shackell — U16 Head Coach. Led the U16 side to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Generation adidas Cup and Round of 32 at MLS NEXT Cup.
Competitive Position
As the youngest MLS academy in Texas (Austin FC launched in 2021), the Austin FC Academy is still building its identification and development pipeline. The U13–U15 teams each finished near the top of the Frontier Conference of MLS NEXT in 2024-25 — strong early results for a new program. Three Homegrown signings in the academy’s first three seasons of competition indicates a functional pathway to professional soccer.
The partnership with lonestar-sc — Austin’s largest independent club with more than 4,000 recreational and competitive players — provides critical feeder volume. Lonestar competes in ECNL and ECNL-RL on the girls side and in national platforms on the boys side, giving the Austin FC Academy a broad base for scouting elite prospects across Central Texas.
Industry Context
Austin FC Academy occupies a specific structural role in the Texas MLS Next ecosystem. Texas hosts three MLS academies — Austin FC, FC Dallas, and Houston Dynamo — each with exclusive MLS NEXT Homegrown franchise rights in their respective markets. The free-tuition model removes cost as a barrier for selected players, positioning MLS academies at the top of the talent pyramid above the ECNL and other national league clubs.
In Central Texas, the Austin FC Academy’s primary competitive interaction is with lonestar-sc, which operates ECNL Girls and national boys programs serving thousands of Austin-area players. Rather than purely competing, the two organizations maintain a collaborative scouting relationship, with Lonestar serving as a feeder. The academy’s U12 program (below MLS NEXT age floor) indicates that identification activity begins before the formal ECNL-competitive tier.
The $45M St. David’s Performance Center differentiates Austin FC’s infrastructure from most independent ECNL clubs in the Texas market, which typically lease field time rather than own purpose-built training complexes. This facility investment signals long-term institutional commitment to the academy as a core part of the MLS club’s player development strategy.
Open Questions
- What is the formal structure of the Lonestar SC partnership?
- How many total academy players are enrolled across all age groups?
- Are there formal partnerships with other Central Texas clubs beyond Lonestar?
- What is the expected Homegrown signing pace as the academy matures?