When Jacob Stutz, DC (2015) moved to Frisco, Texas, the first thing he did was drive to Toyota Stadium, home of Major League Soccer team FC Dallas.
“I sat in the parking lot, thinking about the chance to be just a small part of professional soccer,” he said. “Three months after walking across the stage at Logan, I had no idea this would happen to someone like me.”
Dr. Stutz is now wrapping up his third season as team chiropractor for FC Dallas. He said the opportunity to work with the team had nothing to do with connections―rather it was the result of hard work, determination and the courage to ask.
“I walked in and asked if I could offer the team my services,” he said. “After a long conversation with an athletic trainer―where I had an impromptu patient treatment―they plugged me into the rotation where I treated athletes several days a week. Following a short trial period, the position was made official.”
Today, Dr. Stutz divides his time between practicing at Frisco Family Sport, where he cares for athletes of all abilities, and FC Dallas, where he treats athletes before, during and after games and practices. He also is on call for any immediate needs and often treats athletes for visiting teams.
Dr. Stutz credits his Logan education and years of playing soccer for helping build trust and credibility with his patients. “I understand how they feel after an injury or practice, so there’s a higher level of compassion as well as reporting and compliance from the athletes,” he said.
Because many of the international athletes speak little or no English or have never been exposed to chiropractic, Dr. Stutz often uses his Spanish to educate and explain how chiropractic can help. He enjoys this educational aspect of his job just as much as treating patients. “I get to plant the seed and spread awareness of the profession through education and care,” he said.
For someone who grew up playing soccer and is still passionate about the sport, Dr. Stutz said he’s living a dream. “It just shows that the answer is always ‘no’ until you ask.”