USOC Postpones Interviews for CEO

Colorado Springs, CO Jan 18 (AP)–A five-member search committee has interviewed three candidates to become chief of the U.S. Olympic committee, but three other interviews have been delayed because of scheduling problems.

Pete Dawkins, the 1958 Heisman Trophy winner, and Marla Messing, chief executive of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, were interviewed Monday. Vail businessman Harry Frampton met with the search committee Sunday.

The search committee sought to interview six candidates this week but ended its session earlier than expected because several candidates could not make it on short notice. The committee is still hoping to present a candidate to the USOC executive committee at its Chicago meeting Feb. 4.

Dawkins, a former Army halfback, is an executive at New York-based Citigroup Inc. After 24 years in the Army, Dawkins went into a career in business and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as a Republican candidate in New Jersey in 1988.

Messing, 35, a lawyer and mother of two, was instrumental in launching Major League Soccer and was the chief organizer of last year’s highly successful Women’s World Cup. She also was the executive vice president of the 1994 World Cup USA organizing committee.

Frampton, 56, is managing partner of East West Partners, a developing firm he started in 1985 that has residential and commercial real estate projects at several Colorado ski resorts.

Frampton also is a member of the USOC budget committee, a board member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and directed the last two skiing world championships in Vail.

The search committee reportedly plans to schedule more interviews in the next week. USOC president Bill Hybl chairs the committee, which also includes USOC vice president Herman Frazier, USA Gymnastics chair Sandy Knapp, public sector USOC member Mike McManus and athletes’ advisory committee chair Bill Stapleton.

The search for a CEO was prompted by an external report recommending sweeping changes that would bring the USOC more in line with corporate America.

The changes are intended to redefine the organization’s mission, streamline decision-making, build diversity and improve relationships with the sports and athletes the USOC serves.

Under the revamped corporate infrastructure, the CEO will have the powers of current executive director Dick Schultz, who is retiring, and gain some of the presidential duties of Hybl, who is also stepping down this year.

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