The USOC following the hire of USGA's Sarah Hirshland as its new CEO will now "try to restore its credibility in the aftermath of heavy criticism regarding its lack of protection of athletes" in the Larry Nassar gymnastics sex abuse case, though things "could get worse for the USOC before they get better," according to Longman, Macur & Mather of the N.Y. TIMES. The results of a third-party investigation into why Nassar was "able to get away with molesting athletes for decades" has yet to be published. The USOC also "faces numerous lawsuits." Gold Medalist Jordyn Wieber, one of hundreds of gymnasts who testified as being abused by Nassar, addressed the hiring of Hirshland and said, "We want her honesty and transparency." Nancy Hogshead-Makar, the CEO of sports feminist advocacy group Champion Women and Gold Medal-winning swimmer, said that she was "heartened" by Hirshland's "commitment to gender equity." However, in an email she "noted that the hiring had come as the USOC 'confronts a much-needed cultural change.'" Longman, Macur & Mather note the "measuring stick" for Hirshland will "most likely be her ability to turn the USOC into a more vigilant and proactive organization" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/13).
RIGHT MOVE? USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes the USOC "did its best to turn the page on the darkest hour in its history by naming an Olympic outsider as its new CEO." What Hirshland represents "might be good enough: a fresh start for a beleaguered organization desperately in need of some kind of change." Brennan: "Never heard of Hirshland? That's exactly the point." That she is the "first permanent female CEO" in the 68 years the USOC has had that role is "also telling." In years past, picking a CEO "without any real connection to the Olympic movement might have been seen as disastrous for the USOC." Now, it is "definitely a plus" (USA TODAY, 7/13). In Colorado Springs, Woody Paige writes the USOC "did right by selecting a woman as CEO." However, he asks, "Did the board select the right woman?" It would "seem that Hirshland's proficiency in TV deals, corporate fundraising and sports marketing, and her position with the Wasserman Group, were priorities in her hiring." But Hirshland's "lack of experience as a CEO or in confronting anything as dire as the USOC's damaged trustworthiness should have been more significant in the consideration" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 7/13).
UP TO THE TASK: In Colorado Springs, Tom Roeder in a front-page piece writes Hirshland is a "marketing expert who revolutionized" how the USGA "sells itself to the public." She is "known in the sports industry as a hard-nosed negotiator" and "brings close ties" to the Wasserman Group, who is the top organizer for the '28 L.A. Games. Roeder: "So far, the pick has drawn nothing but praise" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 7/13). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Rachel Bachman writes Hirshland at the USGA "faced another sprawling organization that was resistant to change." USGA CEO Mike Davis said that Hirshland "streamlined an array of state and regional golf associations from more than 100 to 59 while navigating the politics of a tradition-bound sport" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/13).
