Phil Knight. Not beholden to anyone. Doesn't need the money. Let's not pretend Nike isn't running things. Salazar gets coach of the year and grants only go to Nike athletes. Last guy leaves USATF for a job at Nike.
Phil Knight. Not beholden to anyone. Doesn't need the money. Let's not pretend Nike isn't running things. Salazar gets coach of the year and grants only go to Nike athletes. Last guy leaves USATF for a job at Nike.
Um.....Dean Karnazes. I mean shoot, he was nominated for an ESPY!
Tom Fleming would knock a few heads and get things done!
Find a division I athletic director who keeps his department in the black. Hire him or her. Athletic directors have experience with athletes, coaches, and shoe companies. Not to mention excellent fund-raising skills.
I 2nd the nomination of Frank Shorter.
I think that Shorter or Kardong are probably the most solid choices that have been brought up. It seems like everyone here is in agreement that Hightower and her pals need to go.
In order--- ESPNrise Sports` Ben Sylvan might actually take the job if offered and has a sports TV background and seems to be bright enough to retain folks with a proven track record of getting things done when an operation changes it`s corporate view and goals. People who put the sports best interest formost that is what a board is tasked to do: act in the best interest of the organization.Last 2 part Q I have no direct knowledge of Ms Hightowers work ethic or product and since I have no idea what any of the job titles at USATF mean I can not comment on how Hightower and others did or are doing their jobs. The USATF as a group has little to be proud of as far as I can see. I can say the AAU,TAF etc all had good and bad points and IMO most often the best organizations are the ones with the fewest fock-ups in positions that require measurable levels of workproduct.Some have suggested spliting the grass roots programs from the elite/pro level ones and setting up an on track and on road groups under the USATF banner but as independent divisions. It could be set up so that USATF HQ is the holding company for the various parts, track, field, walks, road running, age group, masters and xc.
nikeman wrote:
Who do you think would make a good candidate to replace Logan ? Who would you like to see on the Board of Directors ?
What is your opinion of Stephanie Hightower and her job performance at USATF ?
How about Bob Kennedy? He understands the sport as a former Olympian for the USA and has proven to be a very successful business man with his stores in Indy. He is already living in the city and would not have to change much their in order to be successful.
This post could be the start of a new thread.Let us see some comments on this idea as a stand alone discussion.Does Cowboy Bob want to start the topic with a new subject title?
Cowboy Bob wrote:
A Possible Fix for USATF - Just one person's idea
1. Divide the organization into a minimum of four units each responsible to CEO, who is answerable to Board of Directors - as is the case with most businesses that are public.
2. Division consists of Yourth Sports, Masters, Amateur and Professional. Each unit will have a Director fully versed in that area of expertise. The only involvment in road running is collecting dues from those who race in RRC sponsored events. Let RRC be otherwise independent, they do a good job.
3. All Divisions under the auspices of USATF are accountable to CEO and adhere to principles and policies set up by CEO and Board of Directors.
Goals for each group
Youth Sports - participation - monies allocated to Youth Sports is primarily based on increases in participation within each "francise" be it state or area, if more than one youth :francise" in state (NoCal - SoCal). Directors develop standard programs based on principle that any activity taking longer than 1.5 hours is boring and takes away from developing the sport. (Note main competition is soccer, a sport where you don't see tents set up prior to games.
Masters and Amateur Participation and Competition- Create State Championships and Regional Championships that provides opportunities for Masters and Amateurs to compete in meaningful competition. No meet shall last longer than 3 hours, so meet organization is paramount. No prize money or gifts beyond $100 resulting in no need for expensive drug testing. Emphasis is on fun competition (think Sunday morning softball leagues).
Professional - Run by high profile individual with serious background in management of talent and meet management. Create a series of 6-10 meets around locales in US that appreciate track and field and have events where a minimum of 10-12 athletes compete at professional level. Accountability is based on attendance figures, with meet promoters being rewarded for increased attendance, and certain levels of attendance (10,000 - 20,000). Monetary purses for top 5 in those events that have a minimum of 10-12 legitimate competitors. This money is beyond any other funding an athlete gets. Limit number of events to keep meet short and interesting. Thus, meets should last no longer than 2 hours with event broadcast live or delayed tape within 24 hours. All meets will be posted live on webpage of USATF. Posting of winnings and performance listings by event of top 5 on a weekly basis. Create track and field categories (Sprints, Distance, Jumps, Throws) overall winner money winner in each category wins extra $100,000 at end of season.
The CEO does not have to be a major track and field personality, rather he or she needs to have been involved in Olympic sports of one kind or another that has grown over the past 10-20 years. This person is the policy maker, promoter, fund raiser and creater of ideas. Each Division head, however, needs to have expertise in their division. So, the goal should be that there is a hiring of a CEO and a hiring, under the guidance of the CEO and Board of Directors, of at least 4 Division leaders.
All answer to the Board of Directors, since the Board is the group that is elected to oversee all operations. However, the CEO has the autonomy and ability to move in new directions, with the Board's approval, to develop and grow USATF.
This is a quick version of some of my thoughts and ideas...
This is what happens when you have a lot of time on your hands....:-)
My top 5:
1) Teddy Mitchell
2) Carl Lewis
3) Mark Cuban
4) Kevin Hanson
5) Jack Meehoff
You will not get any quality candidates due to the way Logan was treated and the short time frame he was given. About all they are going to have to choose from are candidates the quality of Mr. Meehoff. So it will be either Meehoff or Hightower.
Give it to AJ Holzherr or Joe Lanzalotterywinner
I think it is high time that a person of color run the USATF and I'm saying this as a white person. The fact is the majority of our most successful athletes are colored and could benefit from the unique leadership and insight that a colored person can offer in terms of socio economic background and life experience. So I am 150 percent behind Stephanie Hightower for USATF CEO since she is a person of color and anybody that ruthless to oust Logan with an eye on his job deserves the CEO title and I hope she insists on the same $450,000 salary that was offered to Logan.
Carly Fiorina
Richard Branson
Jerry Brown
Scott Fairley
Arnold Nazineggar
Mike Garrett
diddy
Shorter or Bob Kennedy
I don't know who I would hire, but here is how you fix the USATF. Hire the top athletes of the past (like Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, etc. - I will let you fill in the blanks). Then send them to the fortune 500 companies of the world. Tell them that for every company they sign up to sponsor USATF, they get 10% or 20% of the deal. So, if a Carl Lewis goes to Microsoft to broker $10 million for USATF, then he would take home $1 or $2 million for himself. They are celebrities who can get in the door. Our sport is only important ever 4 years because of the lack of funding. Golf is huge now because they have been able to get major sponsors. Track needs that as well! This plan would help move track and field forward in the U.S.
BoulderSuperstar wrote:
tRg on the board, most definitely.
I don't like confrontation quite that much. I'll just stick to this [message] board for now, quietly scheming...
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