USA Swimming Hires Kevin Ring as New CEO After Long Search

USA Swimming Hires Kevin Ring as New CEO After Year-Long Search

A 12 months after the job initially turned vacant, USA Swimming has landed on its new chief. Kevin Ring, who has been President of Legends Golf for the previous three years, takes over the group through the vital leadup to an Olympics in Los Angeles.

Ring turns into the full-time chief of the nationwide governing physique following a stretch of instability. Former CEO Tim Hinchey resigned following the Paris Olympics, and the method to safe his substitute has been drawn out.

“Swimming is one of the world’s most inspiring and global sports, and I am honored to join USA Swimming at such an important moment,” Ring stated in USA Swimming’s announcement of the rent. “There is an extraordinary opportunity to grow participation, connect with new fans and develop innovative partnerships that will fuel success for the entire swimming community. I look forward to working with our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and partners to expand the reach and impact of this incredible sport.”

Ring takes over after three years as head of Golf at Legends, a data-focused firm that partnered with the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of America to drive innovation and sponsorships. Before that, Ring labored for the PGA of America as Chief Revenue Officer and beforehand Chief Marketing Officer. In these roles, he targeted on advertising and marketing, partnerships, hospitality, ticket gross sales and merchandising.

Ring has additionally labored for IMG Consulting, working with figures in golf in addition to Major League Baseball, tennis, Formula One racing and the 2002 World Cup for soccer. Ring has by no means labored in swimming, however he was as soon as concerned in communications for the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Even with out expertise within the sport, USA Swimming believes Ring’s expertise has ready him to “lead USA Swimming’s strategy to expand membership, increase revenue and maximize the momentum of the sport. The organization under Ring is also committing to focusing “on the long-term health of the sport in the United States.” The announcement additionally revealed that Ring will take over as CEO of the USA Swimming Foundation.

Natalie Coughlin, a 12-time Olympic medalist and International Swimming Hall of Famer, is ready to take over as Chair of the USA Swimming Board of Directors, and she or he endorsed Ring’s appointment to the function. “His commitment to empowering athlete leadership, strengthening coach development, and bringing all stakeholders to the table is exactly what USA Swimming needs to move forward,” Coughlin stated. “I’m confident his leadership will make a lasting impact on our sport.”

Current board chair Chris Brearton had comparable reward, noting that Ring entered his new function with a “track record in driving participation and revenue growth.” Brearton indicated that Ring was dedicated to “the vital role of supporting athletes and coaches at every stage of their journey and ensuring they have the resources to succeed. His ability to bring demonstrated best practices from other sports to empower our athletes, coaches and the broader swimming community will be instrumental as we head into LA 2028 and beyond.”

The change in management at USA Swimming was put in movement after the U.S. nationwide staff struggled in comparison with expectations at main meets, together with on the Paris Games. Weeks after that, as quite a few points inside the sport turned evident at house, Hinchey and former National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko left the group.

Chrissi Rawak was named to the CEO function in February, however the association fell by means of after 9 days resulting from a SafeSport grievance.

Shana Ferguson had been interim CEO of USA Swimming from August till March, when she departed to affix the LA 2028 organizing committee. Former USA Swimming board chair Bob Vincent had been briefly in cost since then.

Speaking on the American Swim Coaches Association Convention Wednesday, Vincent stated he accepted the function “because I’m a volunteer. That’s what volunteers do. They volunteer. I stepped up to do it, and I’m so glad that I did.” Vincent stated that in his tenure, he targeted on placing staff in place to do their jobs nicely whereas giving the incoming CEO flexibility to form the longer term workers. “All of us need to work together to help the new CEO succeed,” he stated.

During the time when USA Swimming was with out a full-time chief, it did rent a brand new chief for the National Team, with former Stanford girls’s coach Greg Meehan taking over the function in April.

The lack of a full-time USA Swimming CEO got here into focus following the American staff struggling on the current World Aquatics Championships, with nearly all of staff members battling gastrointestinal sickness. The group has come underneath fireplace from high-profile figures within the sport, together with recently-retired all-time greats Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte plus figures from additional previously corresponding to longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Rowdy Gaines.

In specific, Phelps has outlined “my frustrations with the current state of the sport.” He clarified that his criticism was by no means directed on the precise U.S. swimmers. Instead, Phelps’ feedback had been aimed upward. He wrote, “No one really wants to talk about how broken USA Swimming has become. He called for accountability and transparency while saying indicating that the organization’s leadership was “failing.”

Now, it would fall on Ring to guide the USA Swimming’s rebuilding efforts. His targets will certainly embody mending fences with Phelps and different disaffected veterans whereas engaged on revitalizing membership and fundraising alternatives to capitalize on the looming Olympics on house soil.