Rapids President TIM HINCHEY is "leaving that position" to become USA Swimming President & CEO, according to John Meyer of the DENVER POST. Hinchey was named MLS exec of the year in '16 and has "20 years of experience in professional sports," including positions in the NBA, EPL and NHL. But he also is an "avid masters swimmer" and swam in college for UC-Irvine. Hinchey "replaces CHUCK WIELGUS, who died of cancer in April after almost 20 years in the position." Hinchey will "leave the Rapids, where he has worked for the past seven years," on July 1 (DENVER POST, 6/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Pat Forde noted "beyond an extensive marketing and administrative background in other sports, Hinchey's first and abiding love is swimming." Hinchey: "This is the only job I could envision leaving the Rapids for, because of my passion for swimming." Hinchey's task in his new role will be to "maintain the sport's position of prominence -- and arguably pre-eminence -- in the American Olympic sports landscape." Wielgus "leveraged the MICHAEL PHELPS phenomenon to produce unprecedented levels of prosperity and popularity." The challenge will be "sustaining mainstream commercial investment and fan interest in swimming." Hinchey: "My work will mainly be on the commercial side, growing relationships and finding new revenue and marketing opportunities. But we've also got to find those next stars and develop elite athletes that keep us on top of the world" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/1). The AP's Paul Newberry noted with the Rapids, Hinchey oversaw a more than 300% "increase in season ticket accounts and increased sponsorship revenue, including the team's first jersey endorsement" (AP, 6/1).
