USOC Forces Uniting After Upheaval

USOC chair Larry Probst met with governing board leaders to discuss the new leadership at the USOC. (USOC)USOC chairman Larry Probst has mollified leaders of U.S. national governing bodies who had demanded answers following Jim Scherr's resignation as CEO earlier this month.

Probst met for several hours Monday in San Francisco with Skip Gilbert, executive director of USA Triathlon and chair of the NGB Council; Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, and USOC Board members Mike Plant and Bob Bowlsby, who represent the NGBs on the board.

The group determined that Stephanie Streeter, the board member who took over Scherr's post on March 5, will be called "Acting Chief Executive Officer" instead of "Interim Chief Executive Officer." They also agreed that a national search would be conducted for a permanent CEO -- although the timing and process for the search have not been set.

Penny said that the word "acting" meant that Streeter "has the full support of the board," while interim "would imply that there is a timeline attached to it."

Said Gilbert, "Larry explained the dynamics; you have an acting CEO stepping into the environment, you kind of need to let her get her feet wet and assess."

He added that it was "hard to say" if the permanent CEO would be in place by the Vancouver Olympics next February.

In the meantime, the USOC's ethics committee will address and resolve any potential conflicts of interest involving Streeter's appointment. Those include her position as a member of the board - which she has not resigned at this point -- and any other boards on which she currently serves, including Chicago 2016's board.

A Unified Front for Chicago 2016

The group also discussed: how the NGBs and other constituents can have more input with the board; stabilizing the USOC staff, which has several important positions vacant and must be reduced by 10-15 percent to accommodate budget cuts; and a responsibility by all parties to work together to support Chicago 2016's bid efforts.

"We took some important steps today to better understand each other," Penny said. "I was impressed with Larry's passion for making the USOC a truly world-class organization."

The meeting may have quelled any rebellion within the ranks. Most of the NGBs had been taken aback by Scherr's sudden resignation and the installation of Streeter, a relative unknown on the USOC's Colorado Springs, Colo., campus and around the Olympic Movement. With Sportaccord next week and the 2016 vote in October, the timing was awkward for a change in leadership.

"They were very receptive to everything we brought up," Gilbert said. "They understood the perceptions out there, the dynamics of the NGB constituency groups and we're very encouraged by literally everything we discussed."

Gilbert said the NGBs pledged to support Streeter. Initially alarmed by the prospect that she would automatically move from interim to permanent CEO, the NGB chiefs sought - andStephanie Streeter will now be "Acting Chief Executive Officer" while a national search is conducted. (USOC)were given - a commitment by Probst to launch a national search for the post.

Gilbert, who met with Streeter last Wednesday, said he did not know if she would pursue the job permanently. "She needs to decide that for herself, if she wants to put her hat in the ring," he said. "I don't believe she's done that yet."

Gilbert said her decision could be based on the criteria defined for the job. He said there was no discussion Monday about whether Streeter will commute from her home in Wisconsin or move to Colorado Springs.

Streeter moved from a volunteer position on the board to one which paid Scherr about $560,000 in total compensation.

Choosing to Look Ahead

Rather than dwelling on the factors leading to Scherr's resignation after six years, Gilbert said the group talked more about how they can work together in the future to help the Olympic Movement.

"Once we started getting into the details of all of the issues that were on the table, we could see and respect and accept the decisions that were made," Gilbert said. "What we tried not to do was make this about who's left the CEO role - why there was a separation between the USOC and the last CEO. We really tried to purposely avoid that."

He said playing "armchair quarterback" about the move wasn't "germane to where we're trying to get to" and wasn't appropriate to divulge in a public forum.

"It's [the board's] right to be able to say it's time to make a change in our leadership," Gilbert said. "That's what this board did; it's really none of our business."

Probst did not speak to reporters, but issued a statement calling the meeting "extremely productive."

"As a result of our meeting today, we have established a much more productive path on which we will move forward," Probst said. "Given the magnitude of the challenges and opportunities that are before us, it is essential we begin doing so immediately."

Seeking More Representation

The group also discussed the role of Chris Duplanty, the liaison between the NGBs and other USOC constituency groups and the 10-member board. His job was originally supposed to be a volunteer position, but former chairman Peter Ueberroth convinced the board to make it a post paying about $200,000 a year.

Penny said it was his understanding that Duplanty's term was up in February and that the position will be evaluated.

Gilbert and Penny hope chiefs of various NGBs will address the board at subsequent meetings so they can work together better.

"We wanted the NGBs to have a direct link into the boardroom," Gilbert said. "We're not asking for a seat at the table, just more representation."

Written by Karen Rosen

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