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First Mate: Fran Taylor Named Colorado Rapids Assistant General Manager

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COMMERCE CITY, CO (January 11, 2018) – Padraig Smith is now officially the (no longer interim) General Manager of the Colorado Rapids. He now has reinforcements. Fran Taylor has been named Colorado Rapids Assistant General Manager.

First Mate: Fran Taylor Named Colorado Rapids Assistant General Manager

Taylor comes to MLS having spent the last eight years as Vice President of Analytics Application at StatDNA. StartDNA is a software development and analytics company that specializes in sport. They were acquired by Arsenal Football Group in 2013. Taylor will work directly under General Manager Smith as a member of the Soccer Operations staff at the club.

“In an off-season in which we’re entirely overhauling the way we conduct ourselves on the soccer side, we’re absolutely delighted to welcome Fran to the front office. He’s a sharp mind, and his experience at Arsenal – both with the scouting and coaching staffs – will play a crucial role in bringing our vision for the future of this club to life,” said Smith.

Taylor played college soccer at Occidental College. He graduated in 2009 with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. With the Occidental Tigers, he was a stand out and was named to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All Conference Team.

“Being part of the club’s new vision was something that attracted me from the start. I believe in what Pádraig and Coach Hudson are trying to build here and I am honored to have been selected for this position. I cannot wait to get started,” said Taylor.

Taylor joined StartDNA in October 2009 after graduation and has been there since before taking this position with the Rapids. This should complete a very busy off-season for Colorado as far as front office staff positions are concerned. The club could still be looking at players and Head Coach Anthony Hudson could still make some coaching staff level decisions.

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