The NWSL named Helium Sports Group Managing Partner JEFF PLUSH Commissioner as the league heads into its third season in April. Plush also had a previous stint as Rapids Managing Dir from '06-11, during which time he was on the MLS and Soccer United Marketing BOG. During his time with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Plush led the '04 launch of the Altitude Sports & Entertainment RSN (NWSL).
TEAM BUILDING: The Dolphins named Priority Sports & Entertainment agent and former NFL Jets Exec VP & GM MIKE TANNENBAUM Exec VP/Football Operations, effective Feb. 1. Tannenbaum in the new role will handle all football administration. He had been working with the Dolphins as a consultant since August (Dolphins)....The WNBA Dream named Univ. of Miami Assistant Dir of Ticket Operations TRAVIS WATKINS Manager of Ticket Operations (THE DAILY)....The Single-A Midwest League Wisconsin Timber Rattlers named HILLARY BASTEN Banquet Sales & Event Manager, SARA MORTIMER Staff Accountant and KAITLYNN SABLICH Group Sales Rep (Timber Rattlers).
TV TIMEOUT: NFL Network named Fox Deportes VP/Marketing & Communications STEVEN GRACIANO VP/Marketing. Among Graciano’s responsibilities will be to serve as a liaison within the NFL and the NFL media group in order to highlight league priorities and initiatives (THE DAILY)....Fox Networks promoted VP/Distribution & Advance Services BJ ELIAS to Senior VP/Distribution (Fox)....FS South named Turner Sports Senior Publicist/Communications ERIC WELCH Senior Manager of Communications & Social Media (THE DAILY).
EXECS: SMG named WWE Senior VP/Live Events PATRICK TALTY GM for the new Vikings stadium project (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/6)....Mizuno USA hired Material Concept Group President MARK SHEEHAN as VP/Product Management for its Running Division, reporting to Senior VP & GM/Product Divisions DICK LYONS (Mizuno)....Spalding named Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Senior Brand Advertising Manager KENYATTA BYNOE Senior Dir of Marketing. Bynoe will manage the day-to-day partnership with the NBA league office and all NBA teams, as well as WNBA and D-League clubs (Spalding)....Portland State Univ. named Miami (Ohio) Univ. Deputy AD MARK ROUNTREE AD (PSU)....Central Michigan Univ. named field hockey coach CRISTY FREESE Senior Associate AD (CMU)....IndyCar team Andretti Autosport named Schmidt Peterson Motorsports GM ROB EDWARDS Dir of Race Operations & Engineering (INDYSTAR.com, 1/5)....The Women’s Sports Foundation appointed Gold Medal-winning U.S. women’s soccer player ANGELA HUCLES to a two-year term as President (WSF).
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