{"id":490,"date":"2011-05-26T05:47:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T12:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=490"},"modified":"2011-05-26T05:47:00","modified_gmt":"2011-05-26T12:47:00","slug":"usatf-ceo-search-another-bobble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=490","title":{"rendered":"USATF CEO Search \u2013 Another Bobble"},"content":{"rendered":"

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USATF \u2013 USA Track and Field. The governing body of the sport in the United States of America. Outside of the IAAF, the body that should be the most powerful in the sport \u2013 in charge of the deepest strongest team on the planet. We produced Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Edwin Moses, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and Evelyn Ashford. By default we should start with 20 medals in Daegu and London. <\/p>\n

But we can\u2019t find a CEO! Are you kidding me?!<\/p>\n

This \u201cshould\u201d be one of the plum jobs in all of track and field. It should be like placing an ad for coach of the Lakers or manager of the Yankees or coach of the Patriots \u2013 announce the opening then decide which ultra talented candidate is most deserving of our selection! Yet after hiring a high powered agency to manage the search process we are told that we\u2019re NOT the Lakers or Yankees or Patriots \u2013 as a matter of fact we\u2019re not even the Timberwolves or Bengals \u2013 because apparently NO ONE wants the job! At least that what we\u2019re being told<\/a> \u2013 and that therefore Board President Stephanie Hightower could become the next CEO.<\/p>\n

Of course, we really have no idea who does or doesn\u2019t want the job, or even who applied for the job. Because the transparency we were promised has been as translucent as a brick wall \u2013 we know nothing. We do know that Vin Lananna turned the job down \u2013 he\u2019s told us so. Apparently he was the leading contender in the hunt. But what of Mary Whittenberg, or Bill Schmidt<\/a>? Individuals who clearly have what it takes to run the organization and move it forward. Did they apply? Were they interviewed? If so, were they finalists? And if not, who was seen as potentially better fits, outside of Lananna who turned down the job? And if they did apply, is Hightower really seen as a better option, or did they too turn down the job? <\/p>\n

In his article<\/a> on the subject Phil Hersh said that “There is a feeling the entire interview process may have been flawed because all potential candidates are aware of Hightower’s interest in the job and may fear she would interfere with the CEO’s ability to run the federation — thereby compromising the CEO’s security.”. So was the entire process a farce from the beginning? Was this a front for the eventual move of Hightower to the position or, as has also been floated, paving the way for Ian Stewart (Hightower\u2019s husband) to take the mantle?<\/p>\n

All speculation aside, here\u2019s what I do know. Since Doug Logan\u2019s release last September we\u2019ve been told two things, the name of the search firm, and the job description<\/a>. Nothing else has been forthcoming, and when asked (I\u2019ve emailed the office several times during the process) the standard response has been that information would be coming soon. We\u2019ve been lead to believe that the board has been doing their due diligence, and has been focused on doing what is best for the sport. In essence we have been told to trust in them and trust in their judgment as this process was not going to be conducted in front of the public. And now we are being lead to believe that after months of research, interviews, and vetting (who, or even how many we have no clue) that this board has found only ONE suitable candidate for the position! And that we should trust in the current president of the board to take the reins and move this sport forward!<\/p>\n

Mind you this is the same board and board president that after Masback\u2019s departure sent American athletes onto the track of the Olympic Games in handwritten bibs. This is the same board and board president that allowed what was once one of the country\u2019s most prestigious meets (Modesto\/California Relays) to die a slow and agonizing death while TAKING AWAY USATF funding! The same board and board president that has allowed Olympic and World Champion Lashawn Merritt to rot for two years for an offense that athletes from other federations are cleared of in three to six months! A board that if any of it\u2019s members have attended a meet outside of Eugene in the past few years has had it\u2019s selection of seats because the majority of them were EMPTY! <\/p>\n

But this board, and it\u2019s president, want us to believe that while they have presided over the rapid deterioration of the sport in this country that they know what\u2019s best for the leadership of the organization going forward. That they have found no one capable of taking the reins of this sinking ship and that the BEST option moving forward is the current steward of the board who, by the way, does NOT fit the requirements for the position as set forth in the job description adopted by THIS sitting board! I guess next they will be unveiling a fundraising plan centered around selling major bridges across the United States starting with the Golden Gate.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for USATF to poop or get off the pot! To stop insulting the intelligence of the track and field community. To stop with the building of a fiefdom and decide if it is happy with the state of track and field in this country. If they are happy with the lack of funding flowing into this sport. If they are happy with track and field being a third class citizen on television to lacrosse, cheerleading, and spelling bees. If they are satisfied with our inability to host a major championship in this country, then they should do as they suggest and continue the Keystone Cops standard status quo and move the current board president into the position of CEO.<\/p>\n

IF, however, they are sincere about the needs of the organization as expressed in the job description that THEY claim to have used in their search for a CEO, then they will extend their search and\/or revisit some of the candidates previously discarded. Because this organization\/sport sorely needs someone that can interface effectively with the business community. Someone that can lead a fundraising effort substantial enough to secure the kind of sponsorships that will not only fund current meets\/activities, but can begin to put more high level meets (like New York and Pre) back onto the U.S. schedule. We need someone that can lead a marketing effort strong enough to ensure that these meets are effectively sold to the general public, that tickets are sold, and seats are filled. We need a CEO that can negotiate with television networks to secure the sport adequate media face time, because we are after all a global sport that should at least have a presence comparable to hunting & fishing, cage fighting, hiking, and cycling which are all staples on sports television.<\/p>\n

More importantly we need a CEO with vision, and the acumen to make that vision reality. We need someone with the vision that the sport needs at least one major stadium in this country. The vision that the U.S. should be the host of the sports\u2019 grandest competition \u2013 the World Championships. We need someone that understands that the needs of the amateur faction of this sport are so much different than the professional faction of this sport that perhaps we need to move towards some sort of restructuring \u2013 and has the capacity to lead such an endeavor. In short we need the kind of CEO that can lead the U.S. to it\u2019s rightful place into track and field\u2019s global hierarchy!<\/p>\n

The fact that this wish list is so extensive says that, clearly the leadership that we need does NOT currently exist within the organization. That\u2019s why this board MUST go back to it\u2019s job description and look for someone with (among other skills):<\/p>\n