USOC Nears CEO Choice, Zero Talk of Olympic Bid

(ATR) Out of a field of 140 candidates, only one or two finalists could be presented to the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors for theopen postjob chief executive officer.

"It feels like we're making really good progress," USOC chair Larry Probst said following an all-day board meeting Monday in San Francisco.

Although the USOC had hoped to name a new CEO by Jan. 1, Probst said he's not sure if the group will hit that target date, but it should be close. He said the new CEO would be in place by the time the Winter Olympics begin in mid-February.

Selected candidates will be interviewed in the next few weeks. Probst refused to discuss any names or comment on speculation in the media that mentioned five candidates with sports backgrounds, plus a corporate tycoon.

Among the names: Sandy Alderson, a baseball executive; Scott Blackmun, who once led the USOC as interim executive director; Mark Lewis, President of Jet Set Sports; Chuck Wielgus, CEO of USA Swimming and Norm Bellingham, the USOC's chief operating officer, along with TD Ameritrade chairman Joe Moglia.

An International Comeback Needed

The board met for the first time since the October debacle in Copenhagen, where Chicago was eliminated in the first round of IOC voting for the 2016 Olympic host city.

Probst said that he and the board are aware of the USOC's shortcomings internationally, but they did not discuss them during the meeting.

"That's something that obviously needs to be addressed once we get the new CEO in place," Probst said. "That's going to be at the very top of that individual's agenda to start putting plans and strategy in place."

He added that a lot of thought is being given to international relations strategy and work going on behind the scenes. "Clearly we need to do better, and we understand that," he said.

The board also did not talk about when it would be appropriate to bid for another Olympic Games, Summer or Winter. "I think that's something we'll revisit at a future board meeting," Probst said, "but it didn't happen today."

USOC leadership will likely get together with IOC negotiators to set the stage for further discussions on the controversial revenue-sharing agreement, but Probst had no specific dates. "In the near future, we'll start engaging in those discussions," he said.

The USOC will also try to garner the IOC's support for the U.S. Olympic Network, which is currently on pause. Probst said the deal between Comcast, which was supposed to be the USOC's partner in the venture, and NBC, the current Olympic rights-holder, shouldn't derail the network.

"We've said repeatedly, we want to move forward with the support and cooperation of the IOC," Probst said. "That's important, and we want to make sure we continue to be aligned with Comcast as our partner."

Task Force Ramifications?

Probst pointed out that all nine members of the board of directors were in attendance - Stephanie Streeter's position has still not been filled since she went from board member to acting CEO - and no one left early.

"I think we really worked well as a group today," Probst said, although the board's days in its current incarnation are probably numbered.

Probst has appointed an "independent advisory committee," or task force, led by former NFL chief Paul Tagliabue, that is charged with assessing the USOC's board structure and operations model. One suggestion has been to increase the number of people on the board to give constituent groups a greater influence.

Although the 14-member task force has not met yet, Probst said the USOC board's next meeting would be "consumed by the review and the recommendations of the advisory committee."

The task force could change the length of the term served by the USOC chair. Probst is currently serving four years, which doesn't lend itself to making long-term relationships internationally or becoming an IOC member.

Probst, who was criticized for not doing enough in his first few months on the job, reiterated that he's in for the long haul with the USOC.

"I think I've been pretty clear that I'm not going to resign," he said, "and instead I have engaged about 110 percent over the last few months and I'm going to do what it takes to get the USOC on track to get us positioned in the international community the way that we should be. Clearly, there are some issues that need to be addressed, we've done a bunch of good things and we'll continue to build on that."

Praised by Board Critic

Probst got a rousing endorsement Monday from Mike Plant, a board member who has been one of the most vocal critics of the way the board has operated, including the ouster of Jim Scherr as CEO and the conduct of its relationships with the national governing bodies.

"My hat's off to him, he stepped up and did what he said he was going to do," Plant said. "He made a commitment and he's done it 110 percent. He's reached out to all the constituencies, those that had various concerns and issues. He's made a huge effort to include them in the reform process and in the search (for the new CEO) process,” said Plant during the teleconference.

Streeter's Legacy

Streeter, who presumably only has a few more weeks on the job, made a year-end presentation to the board on which she once sat.

"This year has been a bit of a roller coaster," said Streeter, who failed to build support from the national governing bodies.

"You typically remember the drops and the gut-wrenches and the exhilaration you feel at the end, when your eyes are saucer-wide. You forget the ups; that's what gets you to the top and being able to enjoy the ride."

Streeter said the USOC has had its best performance in history in the year leading up to a Winter Games, including breakthroughs in sports like biathlon and Nordic combined.

The winter Olympic sports also enjoyed increased funding, 13 percent this year alone.

In the worst economic environment in decades, the USOC renewed some sponsorship deals, signed new sponsors and had its best fundraising numbers ever in the month of June.

The USOC supported the Olympic ideals with Olympic Day celebrated in 177 cities nationwide and partnered with Chicago to host the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, which had 3,600 attendees and raised $5 million.

The White House also launched the Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport this year, although its impact remains to be seen.

"We feel we had a very productive and very successful year," Streeter said.

A 15-year strategic plan created by the management team was not presented to the board. Probst said he wants the new CEO to have a look at it first.

Mandate for New CEO

Probst said that besides coming up with an international strategy, the new CEO will be charged with "making sure that the relationships we have with all the various constituencies are in good shape," which includes the national governing bodies, the athletes' advisory council, the multi-sports organization, the U.S. Olympians alumni group and sponsors.

He said the USOC can still be better providers and partners to the NGBs and the athletes, and the organization must take a hard look at how it operates and the service levels it provides.

The USOC will also have to be sound financially.

Because changes in leadership in the past have often being divisive, Probst added that he wants to have "a strong, productive and supportive culture in the organization."

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Written by Karen Rosen.