By Tyler Vaughn,

OKLAHOMA CITY – Energy FC have re-signed defender Max Gunderson to a contract for the 2019 season, Head Coach Steve Cooke announced today. Gunderson will also serve as a physical performance coach, a field in which he is nationally certified.

Gunderson has a great deal of experience within the Energy FC organization as well as the United Soccer League. Gunderson was part of the inaugural Energy FC team in 2014 before stints with the Austin Aztex and San Antonio FC in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Gunderson also featured for the Energy FC U23 team in 2016 and 2017 and was signed to a first team contract again in 2018.

“We are really excited to bring Max back to the club, this time in a slightly different role”, said Cooke. “The one thing that I think strikes everybody about Max is that he is an incredible professional, works extremely hard and is really dedicated to his craft. What people possibly don’t know is that he is actually a nationally certified athletic trainer. He’s got a physical performance coaching background. He is also a coach in his own right and works with young players almost daily, so he’s got a real blend of talents that we think we can really use this year to not only help the coaching staff, but I think he’s going to be a real big asset to the playing staff.”

The addition of Gunderson brings the number of players signed for the 2019 season to 18. He joins goalkeepers Cody Laurendi and Bryan Byars; defenders Atiba Harris, Christian Ibeagha, Kyle Hyland, Drew Beckie, Mekeil Williams and Amer Sasivarevic; midfielders Jose Barril, Marco Bustos, Callum Ross, Rafael Garcia and Josh Garcia; and forwards Deshorn Brown, Cordell Cato, Omar Gordon and Christian Eissele.

Energy FC begin the 2019 season on the road against expansion club El Paso Locomotive FC Saturday, March 9. The first home match will be against Las Vegas Lights FC Saturday, March 16 at Taft Stadium.

Click here to join the Energy FC family for 2019, or give us a call at 405.235.KICK!