Is Doug Logan getting it done as the head of USATF?

Ray wrote:

Wondering what the LDR population thinks. It appears that his "Shin Splints" blog indicates the overwhelming majority of comments are negative.

It's overwhelmingly negative because he hasn't done anything to improve the organization outside of the elite realm, hence why people are so angry. Logan talks a lot about elevating the sport, but he's failed to do anything to actually promote the sport or make it better at the youth, recreational or masters levels.

He came in to his position talking a big game, but people are starting to see through all his rhetoric. He blogs about the dumbest stuff, like going to the US Open, instead of using it as a platform to discuss issues, which obviously angers the people that read the blog and want to know what USATF is actually doing to improve the sport and make becoming a member worth it.

It's easy to see why MLS canned him, even if you take away the fact that he put them millions of dollars in debt. He's a talker, he's opened up USATF offices in New York, but where's the new money he promised to bring in? Where's the improvement in the organization outside of the restructuring, which was going to take place regardless if he was CEO or not? He's been in office for 16 months and little has changed. It's time for him to shut his mouth and start working.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Number 2 post nailed it. He's not doing jack for the future (youth, rec.). The US will continue to scrape by in international comp because we have overwhelming numbers. Our quality and depth is really pathetic considering our numbers and the dollars we spend. No development, just a focus on the elite....

I am an Olympian but not a medalist so I am sure that some would call me out on being elite.

What is he doing for the elite? I think there is a huge misconception that those at the top are getting something. We are not.

I have seen no improvement.

If Nike were to pull out of USATF, our sport would be empty.

I got out of administration in USATF a few years ago and got kicked in the ass on the way out the door. I was trying to decide whether to go to this years annual meeting. Some involved in the federation have told me how great things have become. Yet, every response to the type of question posed here is overwhelmingly negative....

Ray wrote:

Yet, every response to the type of question posed HERE is overwhelmingly negative....

or anywhere else that i've seen posted.

My response is not negative, i really haven't seen any difference, good or bad.

ptboss wrote:

Ray wrote:

Yet, every response to the type of question posed HERE is overwhelmingly negative....

or anywhere else that i've seen posted.

My response is not negative, i really haven't seen any difference, good or bad.

And the fact that you haven't seen any difference is a bad sign for someone who's been in the CEO spot and talked about changing things up for the past year and a half. I think things have improved a little at the administrative level in the national office, but again, that was only because the USOC demanded it.

In terms of what has he done for the "elites", he's only really focused on improving life for the elites. I honestly have no examples of how he's made life better for that select group, but that's the only area he's discussed. Honestly, I don't think Logan cares about any other sector of USATF, which is increasingly alarming to say the least.

Doug Logan isn't doing shit as CEO of USATF. Shin splints is a joke.

The reason why nothing is getting done because they constantly look for a poster child to fill the void of a Usain Bolt type figure in U.S. track. Instead of marketing the sport as U.S. sport, they feel they need a poster boy to be the U.S. sport. Logan is a failed investor and caused the MLS to lose more money than they ever gained.

Hiring the likes of Benita Mosely as chief of sports performance could be the biggest waste of money. Chief of sports performance? What title is that? People like her are condescending and have no idea what it is going to take to get things done. All she knows about is accomplishments she has done. She will live in her own glory days.

An underdog at USATF is Brian Brase, who gets shit done and gets the meets on TV and running smoothly.

I don't know firsthand (I wasn't there when they launched MLS), but a friend who did work for them in the early days claims that Logan wasn't really given a fighting chance, as his office didn't have enough power and the owners were quite strongminded and had unreasonable expectations about when they would turn a profit.

Take it for what it's worth, but maybe he wasn't a terribly shitty commissioner at MLS.

I think that USATF is in a statue quo mode...maybe give him until 2012 to assess the performance

Doesn't seem like much happened since the comission they put in last year to address the shortcoming of the national team at the 2008 Games. They say the right things but honestly there is no change. Logan came and talked to the elite field people last year with all these promises and nothing has transpired. Some more money got put out there for developing elite but not much to make any change. Our youth and junior development hasn't changed and there is no marketing. The name of the game is marketing to get people interested in our sport. The top performers get money from their sponsors and the rest have to scrape by. Our sprints and field events are our strength and there is no set plan for them and we are in decline in those areas if we lose our top people. The distance guys and gals are coming up and there is nothing outside of the shoe companies for them either. Seems like a lot of talk same as before. As the Who said "meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Doug Logan doesn't know shit about running...there is the problem

Why bring an outside administrator...who will understand how to develop runnign talent..a runner, a coach? or some stupid administrator who has no running background?

It works both ways. If you didn't set off the metal detector at the airport on the way back from Berlin you, your club and your coach don't have a claim with Senor Logan nor USATF.

IT's a no-win.

Get rid of Youth, Masters, and Walkers. Focus on elite's 80% and grass roots elite clubs 20%.

That would take an impossible overhaul.

Only an outsider would take the job.

Your last line clearly shows that you know nothing about what goes on at the top level of USATF. Giving Brian Brase credit for getting meets on TV? Do you have a clue? Running smoothly? Have you been to a USATF event? If you want to give Brian credit, first give credit to about thirty people before him who deserve it. I don't mean to bash BB, but I would give credit to many more people before mentioning BB. Seriously get a clue.

Who do you think re-signed NIKE for a huge increase, when everyone else is losing sponsors...Doug Logan. Who takes the blame away from his staff when things don't go right...Doug Logan. Doug is a leader, give him time, judge after a little more time.

The sport of track and field needs less sharks and sideline critics...you want change? Step in and do something for the sport. Doug is going to help the sport by re-directing it, making it more fun for the fans and increase the TV exposure. You'll see.

Flapper wrote:

IT's a no-win.

Get rid of Youth, Masters, and Walkers. Focus on elite's 80% and grass roots elite clubs 20%.

That would take an impossible overhaul.

Only an outsider would take the job.

How will they make money if they cut all those membership fees from their income?

Ray wrote:

I got out of administration in USATF a few years ago and got kicked in the ass on the way out the door. I was trying to decide whether to go to this years annual meeting. Some involved in the federation have told me how great things have become. Yet, every response to the type of question posed here is overwhelmingly negative....

Are you seriously looking for positive comments on this (or any) message board? You are not going to find them because people come here to fulfill their need to anonymously complain.

He takes the blame? He's thrown many people at USATF under the bus in his various speeches when he took over the organization. Logan's a great leader, well he just opened up his new office in NYC, leaving much of his staff in Indianapolis. He's not a leader, he's a talker, there's a big difference.

And how much time do you want to give the guy? Should we give him a full quadrennial? He's been in his position for well over a year now and what's changed? The Nike re-signing was going to happen anyways, and honestly, our sport doesn't need more Nike money. Nike has 100x more influence and power in this sport compared to USATF (that's fact).

Fact of the matter is that USATF does nothing for anyone very well. I'll give Doug credit when he earns it, but at this point he hasn't. It's intriguing that USATF signed a partnership deal with the Millrose Games, helping them make the event better. I think that's a step in the right direction if USATF does anything to actually help. Again, USATF hasn't done anything very well for a long time. It's time for Doug to put up or shut up.

I liked the "Sex, Drugs, & Rock n Roll" edition of his blog. Sets a good example.

Pompous Blowhard......