Jason Kreis has been named the first-ever president of soccer operations of both Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals.
Kreis’ appointment was announced Wednesday in a press conference with RSL and Utah Royals FC governor Steve Miller, Larry H. Miller Company CEO Steve Starks and RSL president John Kimball at America First Field.
The Larry H. Miller Company bought Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC and the Real Monarchs in April.
“It was 21 years ago in October in 2004 when we introduced Jason Kreis, our first-ever player. We did this before we had a name, before we had a logo, even before we had our colors,” Kimball said Wednesday.
In his new role, Kreis will report to ownership and oversee the sporting structures of both RSL and the Royals, though both will continue their independent operation.
“In our first six months of ownership, we have reviewed our internal structure, evaluated the executive talent, engaged with both league offices and studied best practices from around the world,” Starks said.
The Larry H. Miller Company is one of a few organizations to own both MLS and NWSL teams, Starks noted.
“While these are distinct teams and staffs, it became apparent to us that we could leverage greater resources, innovation, culture and competitiveness by having them report to a single sporting executive who could have visibility over both clubs, provide mentorship and set a tone in championship culture,” Starks said.
Kreis “has our trust and the trust of the entire organization,” according to Starks.
“We want to be world class. We want to be elite, as Jason likes to say,” Starks said.
‘Salt Lake is where I should be’
Kreis opened his remarks by thanking his wife, Kimberly, saying, “Without her, there is zero chance I would be standing here today.”
In 2007, Kreis retired to become RSL’s next head coach. He led the club to its first and only MLS Cup title.
Kreis left following the 2013 season for New York City FC and later stints with Orlando City, the United States U-23 national team, the USL and an assistant coaching role with Inter Miami.
“I left here in 2014 at the top of the coaching echelon. I then went away for 10 years, and truthfully, I did not have a ton of success. But through all of that, I experienced and learned a lot,” Kreis said Wednesday.
While away, Kreis realized he didn’t feel fulfilled with what he was doing and he wasn’t happy where he was.
“It dawned on me then that Salt Lake is where I should be. Salt Lake is where I had a tremendous amount of success, and Salt Lake is where I felt appreciated. Salt Lake is where we raised our children. Salt Lake is our home. We belong here,” he said.
He returned to Real Salt Lake in December 2023 as the new director of operations and special projects.
On Wednesday, Kreis made two promises to ownership and the fans.
“Number one, I will approach every day with a positive, competitive and collaborative attitude,” he said. “Number two, I will put absolutely everything I have into this project. Nobody will work harder or be more committed to this than me. The best is yet to come.”
Then quoting the Latin phrase “Audentes fortuna juvat,” meaning “fortune favors the bold,” Kreis said, “I do plan to be bold.”
Jason Kreis’ vision for RSL and Royals
In light of LA FC’s signing of Son Heung-min to an $11.2 million contract, Kreis and Starks were asked if Real Salt Lake was able to compete with such major player signings.
Starks said investment comes in different forms: financial investments in players but also investment in infrastructure, culture, facilities and experience.
“I would say emphatically, yes, we can compete at the highest level. That doesn’t always mean you’re going to spend the most. I think you see that across the sports world. Culture really matters. Development really matters, and they do have to make investment as well,” Starks said. “The Miller family, our ownership group, wouldn’t be at this if we didn’t believe that we couldn’t compete at the highest levels and compete for championships.”
Kreis acknowledged that they will be outspent.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. We will be outspent in player acquisition and player cost by bigger clubs and bigger markets that have bigger stadiums, that have bigger marketing, that have so much more revenue,” Kreis said.
To compensate for that disparity so both RSL and the Utah Royals can “consistently compete for championships,” Kreis said the organizations need to be elite in development, recruitment and culture.
“We’re very, very focused on making our health and performance and our recruitment departments elite. We are looking at how we have operated over the past couple of years, and I think we’ve been honest with ourselves to say we haven’t done a good enough job in the recruitment department. We haven’t done a good enough job with our professionalism and establishing an elite culture,” Kreis said.
RSL wrapped up its season last week after a wild card loss in the playoffs to the Portland Timbers. The Royals’ season concludes Sunday with a home match against the Washington Spirit.
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