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

riley stops wrote:

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.

Newsflash: USATF has owned Millrose for some time.

I will repeat: Logan will not do shit. He will invest in projects that will never be profitable, such as regional team competitions? F***ing stupid.

Only reason why Nike resigned with USATF, because they thought Chicago would get 2016. If Chicago had won, USATF would have recieved an even more substantial sponsorship increase. Nike wanted to be plastered all over Chicago, and practically own the Olympics.

Brase deserves credit because of the organization and leadership he has at meets, and the people he deals with at these meets.

Back to Logan. He knows nothing of the details of the sport, and jumped into the Usain Bolt era, where one man dominates the whole sport, regardless of distance. I'm tired of hearing that he has tricks up his sleeves, because honestly they are failed attempts already. Project 30 could be the biggest joke, as it does nothing for the sport in America, just Logans resume.

USATF should hire Bobby Knight as their CEO. He's loved track ever since he coached Dave Wottle as a middle schooler. If anybody can get things done, it's Bobby Knight.

I'm not going to judge his progress so far because I understand reform in anything takes time. I am kind of worried, though, because from the interviews that I have heard from him, it sounds like he is trying to stick to a very traditional approach to track and field when I think most would argue that new things need to be tried and implemented. One major reform that I feel needs to take place is in the realm of sponsorship. Logan said in one interview that he doesn't want track and field to turn in to nascar, with people running with logos all over them, but I think two few people get the support that they need. There needs to be something in between being an athlete that is on contract with one of the five or so main companies and being an unsigned and completely unsupported athlete.

Logan is not to be judged by the grass roots development. This is a flawed construct of most NGBs around the world in track. We need to separate the various levels and have USATF be the umbrella fed and in charge of the elite level.

That being said Logan has caused serious turmoil and mistrust. It is not about change it is about the people he has put n place and who he has consulted. He has drawn allegiances and this is what has upset the apple cart. He has restructured and replaced what he deemed the old boy network with new members of the old boy network.

The new structure has funneled all control through Benita and thus himself. Here is the magic question, where is the money and how do we get to find out where it is being spent? Some of you may not agree with the old regime but damnit we knew where what was going where. Now it is hush hush and the wagons have been circled.

Logan's trail is clear and some of you need to pay attention. He walked in and followed the USOC edict. Something the previous regime fought to maintain our power and control.Our independence and to not marginalize ourselves as merely the Crown jewel of the Games. Chicago's failure was a serious blow to Logan and his blueprint. But there is another player, a big one, and one that many have fought and complain about but to no avail. A player with direct influence and money in the sport and especially USATF. Nike owns Logan and now owns USATF, they have masterfully used Logans self proclaimed ignorance to take over. What does this all mean for the sport? Not sure if it is a plus, but Iknow this, it makes Logan look like the perfect puppet. He has done nothing to threaten the established hierarchy. His restructuring was an outline from the USOC and his appointments have been nothing more than a strategic manipulation by Nike. Someone show me where he has lived up to his promises to be a maverick? He has been less of a maverick than any before him. His lack of understanding of the track culture has been a bigger problem than we ever pontificated. Nike and USOC aside, his inability to grasp the culture and motivations of the sport is a real problem as we move forward.

to not marginalize ourselves as merely the Crown jewel of the Games.

Wrong. Only the USA sprinters, hurdlers, multi, and field athletes are producers. The rest of USATF blabs and blabs, but doesn't bring home the bacon.

A few comments, in no particular order, and from no particularly privileged vantage point:

1) Change takes time. Especially when there is a massive change mandated by an outside body (the USOC) very near the beginning of your time at the helm; it makes some sense to take time to inventory whether the mandated changes are working, and then, once it has been established what is and isn't working, make your own changes from there.

2) I can't believe some people are criticizing Logan for titling one of his blog posts "Drug, Sex, and Rock 'n' Roll" (and I've seen this in two places, both her and in the comments on Shin Splints). This is hardly edgy; in fact, I actually view it as a little jab at other sports for their athletes' indiscretions (and a bit of an ironic celebration of USATF's elite performers' good citizen status). Also, even if that isn't the case, sports is entertainment, and that title was at least an attempt at entertainment (and those attempts are something our sport has been sorely lacking).

3) I think Logan has done at least a couple interesting things, attempting to shake things up and create attention for our sport. Although it might not work out, I really liked his idea of a home-and-home series with Jamaican sprinters. He is to be commended for attempting to make that happen. Also, although I don't know the details, I believe the Nike renewal and the deal with that Indy hospital to provide health care and rehab for elites are both indicators that Logan can bring more sponsors (and, thus sponsor dollars) and partners on board with USATF.

4) This one is a question, not a comment: some have mentioned changes in funding for elites (specifically field-eventers). What are the details of these changes?

5) Some have criticized Logan for a lack of transparency. While some might not trust these methods, I would note that he has regularly posted on the Shin Splints blog and also presided over (what I believe is) the publication of the first ever USATF annual report. These seem to be significant steps towards transparency.

5) And lastly, it's interesting how Logan is criticized from all sides on here: he hasn't done enough to supports elites (say some), but he's entirely focused on elites and ignores the grassroots (say others). Track and Field needs new ideas (say some), but they shouldn't have hired an outsider (say others). It could be that his lack of skill as a communicator has created this image problem, but it seems to me (having read all his Shin Splints blogs, and read and watched several other interviews and profiles) that he is, in fact, a very good communicator. It seems more likely that he has a constituent problem (meaning both that he has a too-diverse array of constituents that he has to please* and that many of those constituents like nothing more than to bitch and moan while leaving it to others to solve the sport's problems).

*I'm of the opinion, as it seems are at least a few others on this thread, that USATF (or some other organization) should be a flagship organization for a group of federations that focus on running, walking, and Track and Field in America, and that it should focus on elite-athlete development and funding, and marketing the sport at the elite level.

5) Some have criticized Logan for a lack of transparency. While some might not trust these methods, I would note that he has regularly posted on the Shin Splints blog and also presided over (what I believe is) the publication of the first ever USATF annual report. These seem to be significant steps towards transparency.

There's been no opening nor increased transparency since Logan took over. He & Geer white wash what goes on thru their blogs better than the Fidel Castro regime he emulates. There's been no independent report of the W3000SC fiasco at 2009 USAs. He didn't cancel Masback's 2012 OTs and reopen the bid process. There's still no independent doping monitors, detectives, nor career law enforcement personnel, with yearly personal background and financial disclosure requirements at USATF nor USADA. Under Logan, it's business as usual at USATF.

Seymour G. wrote:

Logan said in one interview that he doesn't want track and field to turn in to nascar, with people running with logos all over them

If every individual athlete has better ability to collect individual sponsors, it makes it harder for USATF/Logan to sign "USATF Sponsors." Suppose that Logan announces that Powerade/Coke have signed up to be the official sports drink for USA Track and Field, and that all USATF ranked athletes would be eligible for a few hundred dollars from Powerade and free product in exchange for being asked to sign autographs from time to time. That may sound like a win-win, but it would surely limit the ability of a major star from signing their own sports drink deal, because Gatorade/PepsiCo would think that if the top track athletes in the country are signing deals with a competitor for a few hundred dollars and product that they must not be worth much.