(Sports Network) - FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman didn't realize how hard it would be to jump to Major League Soccer in mid-season after 31 years as the head coach at Southern Methodist University.

But after going through that in 2008, Hyndman hopes that the added value of having an offseason and training camp with his new team will propel it back into the MLS Cup playoffs after missing out last season.

"It is huge to have a training camp with these guys," he told The Sports Network. "I didn't realize what a disadvantage I was in last year not having the opportunity to train the team from day one and to have a reference point."

Now that he's had time to get to know his players, he knows what to expect from them and can tactically adjust with them.

"It's huge. Knowing what the players can do, appreciating their strengths and understanding their weaknesses and accepting them as professional players and understanding their limitations," Hyndman said.

"It's nice for all us players to have a preseason with Schellas," Dallas forward Kenny Cooper told SportsNetwork.com. "We will go into the season having a better understanding of his demands and what he expects from us. He will probably have a better understanding of us players, after having had a preseason with us and a couple months last year."

Hyndman knew all about Cooper about when he took the job in June of last year. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound U.S. international scored 18 goals in his third season in MLS last season, almost single-handedly pushing FCD to the playoffs.

"He's a great finisher, has great size," Hyndman said. "He also has tremendous work ethic."

Cooper has been busy this offseason getting ready for the upcoming season, and with rumors of him heading overseas in the near future, this is a big season for the 24-year-old.

"It's been a pretty busy offseason," Cooper said. "I found out I was invited to the [U.S.] national team camp so I was trying to prepare for that and then I spent most of January out in California training with the national team. By the time I got back to Dallas they had already started [preseason training] here so I just kind of transitioned into training with them. It's been busy but I wouldn't want it any other way."

With two years left on his current contract, Cooper insists he is all about FC Dallas despite the overseas transfer rumors.

"I'm focused on being here. I'm excited to be with Dallas. I'm excited to get the season going with the team. My focus, priority and obligation is with FC Dallas," he said.

Beside Cooper up top for Dallas will be 11-year MLS veteran Jeff Cunningham, who has 104 career goals in the league.

"It's great having Jeff here," Cooper said. "He's an established player in this league. He's a proven goalscorer. He's scored over 100 goals in this league. You know you are going to get a lot of goals from that guy."

Behind the two forwards, Hyndman will deploy a midfield diamond, with Dave van den Bergh on the left, Dax McCarty on the right, David Ferreira in the attacking center role and team captain Pablo Ricchetti in the defensive role.

McCarty and Ricchetti were on the roster last season, with van den Bergh and Ferreira newcomers to the team.

Van den Bergh isn't new to MLS, however, having spent the last three seasons with New York and Kansas City. He was acquired in a trade from New York in the offseason for Dominic Oduro.

"For us, we wanted a true left sided player who could cross the ball and be dangerous on the flanks," Hyndman said." We needed somebody there who could give us some results, whether they are assists, crosses or scoring."

"He is a quality left sided player and has a great service," Cooper said. "Certainly as a striker I'm excited to play with him."

Ferreira is a lesser known player in MLS circles after he was signed early this year on loan from Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense.

"He is a 29-year-old Colombian national team player with great vision, good passing and good finishing," Hyndman said.

The backline has undergone the biggest transformation this offseason, with new center backs Daniel Torres and Steve Purdy expected to improve the team's defense.

"Daniel Torres was playing in Norway but came off the Costa Rica national team and has played in Columbus and RSL so he is familiar with MLS soccer," Hyndman said. "He's a strong player in the air, good skills, good vision, good experience.

"Purdy is a player that was drafted by the [Los Angeles] Galaxy but went to Germany for two years. As soon as the time clock changed and we were able to put a discovery in on him we did it. We were able to get him back from Germany where he was at 1860 Munich [of the Bundesliga II]. He wasn't really able to get on the field for the first team but he was the captain of their reserve team. He's been a good addition, athletic, good speed, 6-foot-4, strong in the air. His time in Germany really helped him mature," Hyndman added.

The fullbacks will be returning players Drew Moor and Blake Wagner with Marcelo Saragosa, who is coming off knee surgery, on the shelf. Returning goalkeeper Dario Sala will also help stabilize the backline.

"We've made some additions this year and we are also brining back a lot of great players so I think we are all excited about the group that's come together now," Cooper said.



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