MESQUITE OUTLAWS ANNOUNCE BRAD NAMDAR AS NEW GENERAL MANAGER

MESQUITE, TEXAS- The Mesquite Outlaws have made their first move in order to bolster their program this year, by bringing onboard, North Texas native, Brad Namdar to lead the club’s front office and operations as their new GM and Sporting Director for the 2023-2024 season.

Mehrdad Moayedi, Owner of the Mesquite Outlaws stated, “We are happy to bring Brad on-board this season and we look forward to seeing the club continue to grow.”

Namdar, grew up in Plano, Texas - graduating from Plano West Senior H.S. He grew up playing competitive youth soccer at the highest levels in club soccer, was a member of the U.S. Youth Pool, played H.S. Football at Plano West, and was a nationally ranked field goal kicker/punter.

However, soccer has always been a part of Namdar’s life. His great uncle, Jafar Namdar, was FIFA’s Head of Asia Referee’s, participating in multiple Olympics and World Cups. His uncle, known as Cha Cha Namdar, was one of the top MISL (known today as the MASL) players in league history, for the San Diego Sockers. Namdar remembered growing up in Dallas and watching his uncle, Cha Cha, play for the San Diego Sockers vs. the Dallas Sidekicks, in Reunion Arena, against the Mesquite Outlaws legendary head coach Tatu during his time with The Dallas Sidekicks.

“It is a great feeling to be able to work with Tatu, I remember watching him play versus my uncle growing up,” said Brad, “I have known Tatu for many years, coached against him, know his character, and he is a passionate coach, who loves to win.”

Cha Cha, stated, “This is a sentimental moment for me and I am very proud to see my nephew becoming the Mesquite Outlaws GM & Sporting Director in a league that I use to play in for many years with the San Diego Sockers,” said Cha Cha, “I also am happy to see he will be working with my good friend and former rival on the field Tatu. I can’t wait to see what Brad does this year for the team and the league.”

During Namdar’s, senior year in high school, he began coaching youth soccer by volunteering as a coach at the local PSA, and fell in love with coaching. He would then spend summers working in various soccer camps, clinics, private lessons, and learning as much as he could about the technical side of the game.

After graduating from Plano West, Namdar played NCAA Division 1 College Football at Texas Tech University under legendary head coach Mike Leach, and then later transferred the following season to SMU where he later played for another legendary College Football coach, June Jones.

During his time as an undergraduate student at SMU, Namdar was always involved in soccer. He created an award-winning social outreach initiative called “Dream Big Soccer,” helping underprivileged children utilize soccer as an outlet for mentorship and community development. Additionally, in 2010, he became the first ever “Estagio,” (Coaching Apprentice), in the history of U.S. Soccer and MLS, for FC Dallas, learning/assisting with their MLS Development Academy and youth program.

“There are so many mentors I had at FC Dallas and it was a humbling and amazing experience I had everyday," said Namdar, “…but I also worked, volunteered and helped with the back office as much as I could; learning how the internal operations of a professional club were conducted. I helped where I could, and my experience at FC Dallas was an experience I can’t state enough how grateful I am to have had.”

Former FC Dallas & SMU Head Coach, Schellas Hyndman, stated regarding Namdar’s new role at the Mesquite Outlaws,“ I’ve known Brad for many years, all the way back to my days at SMU & FC Dallas. Brad helped with our first team and our development academy. He always gave everything he had to the club. He was eager to learn and is truly in love with the game. I am proud to see him in this new role as the GM & Sporting Director for a professional club like the Mesquite Outlaws.”

Oscar Pareja, another mentor of Namdar’s, and FC Dallas legend, worked with Namdar during his time with the FC Dallas Academy. Pareja, is currently the Head Coach at Orlando City F.C. (MLS), and stated, “I was very proud of Brad when he was offered the position of GM for a NPSL team earlier this year, and in his first season I knew would make an immediate impact for the club. It is not easy to make such an impact right away, but I was confident he could. His handwork and the results he obtained allowed him to have the opportunity to jump into the professional soccer level. I am very proud of him.”

After Brad graduated from SMU, he began studying for his M.A. and became the SMU Men’s Soccer Director of Operations under SMU Men’s Soccer Head Coach, Tim McClements.

At SMU, Namdar learned a tremendous amount regarding how the back office of a NCAA Division 1 soccer program ran, as well as, other front office practices that became valuable in Namdar’s experiences in the evolution of operational practices.

During both his undergraduate and graduate studies, Namdar was also the Cooper Fitness Center Soccer Pro, St. Marks School of Texas 8th Grade Boy’s Head Soccer Coach, and the St. Marks School of Texas - Associate Varsity Head Coach/Head GK Coach, winning 2 SPC Championships during his tenure at St. Marks.

After obtaining his M.A. in 2014, Namdar turned down many soccer jobs across the country to become a DISD high school finance teacher and Boys Varsity Soccer Head Coach at a Title 1 school where he set numerous records during that time. From raising booster club funds to record amounts for his soccer team, setting all time high graduation rates, player retention rates, and winning many awards, including "The Mundial Coach of the Year Award".

Due to Namdar’s success as a coach on and off the field, in 2015, Namdar made the move to become one of the youngest College Soccer Head Coaches in the country when he became the Head Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach at Mountain View Junior College.

Namdar became the MVC head coach with only two weeks prior to the start of the new season, with no recruiting cycle, and without an ample operating budget for two NJCAA soccer programs. Though, again, despite the adversity, he raised funds from the community, set records at MVC for season winning percentages, player retention rates, recruiting/commit records, bringing in new vendors to the athletic complex increasing the College’s overall revenue from facility rentals, and obtained offers for all of his men’s and women’s soccer players to play at a 4-year college or university.

It was also during this time, Namdar coached for the North Texas ODP program, assisted in licensing coaching clinics, and hosted the prestigious Schellas Hyndman coach’s clinic at his campus.

In 2016, Namdar took a step back from soccer to pursue endeavors in creating his own small businesses in the home decor sector focusing first on candles, then home accent pieces, and finally art.

In under 3 years Namdar went from making candles in his kitchen to selling his products to over 300 retail stores, 11 countries, and being carried in retailers like Neiman Marcus, art exhibitions at Formula One USA Grand Prix, and providing art for various commercial real estate and designer projects for a variety of art installations and projects.

Due to Namdar’s success as a small business owner, his deep understanding of international trade and commerce, manufacturing, distribution, product development, and brand development, Namdar was appointed to the Advisory Board of the United States Chamber of Commerce - Small Business Committee in 2020, and among many other leadership positions in various commerce organizations.

In 2020, Namdar was also appointed by Texas Governor Abbott to the Board of the One Star Foundation, where they focused on allocating funds to non-profits, and promoting volunteerism in Texas.

In late 2022, due to Namdar’s success off the field, business experience, and his desire to get back involved in soccer, Namdar was approached by North Texas Soccer Pioneer, Mr. Michael Hitchcock about an opportunity to work on a project as the new GM & Technical Director of the Denton Diablos competing in the NPSL.

The Diablos required a lot of hard work in such a short amount of time in order to be fully prepared for their 2023 season starting in May of that year. However, yet again, with under 4 month, Namdar raised record breaking sponsorship funds, assisted in hiring and obtaining a new Head Coach for the team, obtained a facility for home games for the team to utilize for their 2023 season, created the first ever accredited intern program, and was instrumental in implementing countless other milestones for the club.

Michael "Hitch" Hitchcock, Co-Owner of Denton Diablos and Founding Partner of Playbook Management International, stated, “On behalf of the Denton Diablos, we'd like to congratulate Brad on the exciting news that he's the new Mesquite Outlaws General Manager & Sporting Director. We look forward to watching Brad's continued success as he will continue to grow the beautiful game in North Texas. Major Arena Soccer League has added a talented, hard-working sports management executive to the MASL Family." 

Namdar currently lives in North Texas, earned his Bachelor’s degree from SMU in Journalism with a minor in Philosophy, as well as, his M.A in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management, Mediation License, and Executive Coaching Certificate from SMU. Brad is happily married, and has an awesome puppy named Scooter.