has been named the first-ever president of soccer operations of each Actual Salt Lake and the Utah Royals.
Kreis’ appointment was introduced Wednesday in a press convention with RSL and Utah Royals FC governor Steve Miller, Larry H. Miller Firm CEO Steve Starks and RSL president John Kimball at America First Area.
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Actual Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC and the Actual Monarchs in April.
“It was 21 years in the past in October in 2004 once we launched Jason Kreis, our first-ever participant. We did this earlier than we had a reputation, earlier than we had a emblem, even earlier than we had our colours,” Kimball mentioned Wednesday.
In his new position, Kreis will report back to possession and oversee the sporting constructions of each RSL and the Royals, although each will proceed their unbiased operation.
“In our first six months of possession, we now have reviewed our inner construction, evaluated the manager expertise, engaged with each league workplaces and studied finest practices from around the globe,” Starks mentioned.
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The Larry H. Miller Firm is one of some organizations to personal each MLS and NWSL groups, Starks famous.
“Whereas these are distinct groups and staffs, it grew to become obvious to us that we may leverage better assets, innovation, tradition and competitiveness by having them report back to a single sporting govt who may have visibility over each golf equipment, present mentorship and set a tone in championship tradition,” Starks mentioned.
Kreis “has our belief and the belief of the complete group,” in accordance with Starks.
“We need to be world class. We need to be elite, as Jason likes to say,” Starks mentioned.
‘Salt Lake is the place I ought to be’
Kreis opened his remarks by thanking his spouse, Kimberly, saying, “With out her, there may be zero probability I’d be standing right here in the present day.”
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In 2007, Kreis retired to change into RSL’s subsequent head coach. He led the membership to its first and solely MLS Cup title.
Kreis left following the 2013 season for New York Metropolis FC and later stints with Orlando Metropolis, america U-23 nationwide staff, the USL and an assistant teaching position with Inter Miami.
Jason Kreis speaks at America First Area in Sandy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Kreis was named first-ever president of soccer operations over Actual Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at America First Area in Sandy. | Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
“I left right here in 2014 on the high of the teaching echelon. I then went away for 10 years, and honestly, I didn’t have a ton of success. However by all of that, I skilled and realized rather a lot,” Kreis mentioned Wednesday.
Whereas away, Kreis realized he didn’t really feel fulfilled with what he was doing and he wasn’t completely satisfied the place he was.
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“It dawned on me then that Salt Lake is the place I ought to be. Salt Lake is the place I had an amazing quantity of success, and Salt Lake is the place I felt appreciated. Salt Lake is the place we raised our kids. Salt Lake is our house. We belong right here,” he mentioned.
as the brand new director of operations and particular initiatives.
On Wednesday, Kreis made two guarantees to possession and the followers.
“Primary, I’ll strategy every single day with a constructive, aggressive and collaborative perspective,” he mentioned. “Quantity two, I’ll put completely every part I’ve into this undertaking. No one will work more durable or be extra dedicated to this than me. The most effective is but to return.”
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Then quoting the Latin phrase “Audentes fortuna juvat,” that means “fortune favors the daring,” Kreis mentioned, “I do plan to be daring.”
Jason Kreis’ imaginative and prescient for RSL and Royals
In mild of LA FC’s signing of Son Heung-min to an $11.2 million contract, Kreis and Starks had been requested if Actual Salt Lake was capable of compete with such main participant signings.
Starks mentioned funding is available in totally different varieties: monetary investments in gamers but in addition funding in infrastructure, tradition, services and expertise.
“I’d say emphatically, sure, we will compete on the highest degree. That doesn’t all the time imply you’re going to spend probably the most. I believe you see that throughout the sports activities world. Tradition actually issues. Improvement actually issues, and so they do need to make funding as properly,” Starks mentioned. “The Miller household, our possession group, wouldn’t be at this if we didn’t imagine that we couldn’t compete on the highest ranges and compete for championships.”
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Kreis acknowledged that they are going to be outspent.
“I don’t assume there’s any doubt about it. We will likely be outspent in participant acquisition and participant price by larger golf equipment and greater markets which have larger stadiums, which have larger advertising and marketing, which have a lot extra income,” Kreis mentioned.
To compensate for that disparity so each RSL and the Utah Royals can “constantly compete for championships,” Kreis mentioned the organizations must be elite in growth, recruitment and tradition.
“We’re very, very targeted on making our well being and efficiency and our recruitment departments elite. We’re taking a look at how we now have operated over the previous couple of years, and I believe we’ve been trustworthy with ourselves to say we haven’t accomplished a ok job within the recruitment division. We haven’t accomplished a ok job with our professionalism and establishing an elite tradition,” Kreis mentioned.
RSL wrapped up its season final week after a wild card loss within the playoffs to the Portland Timbers. The Royals’ season concludes Sunday with a house match towards the Washington Spirit.
Jason Kreis is photographed at America First Area in Sandy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.Jason Kreis speaks at America First Area in Sandy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Kreis was named first-ever president of soccer operations over Actual Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at America First Area in Sandy. | Laura Seitz, Deseret Information