Siff served as USA Triathlon President from '14 until his resignation earlier this monthbarry siff
USA Handball has hired former USA Triathlon BOD President Barry Siff as its next CEO, a highly unusual move that will see a volunteer director leave his NGB for a paid staff position with another one. Siff replaces Michael Cavanaugh, who will now become USAH Operations Dir underneath Siff. “Barry brings extensive experience in effectively collaborating with the U.S. Olympic Committee and international federations, and there is no doubt his passion and drive will help us move team handball forward,” USA Team Handball co-Chair & President Bob Djokovich said in a statement. Siff, the former ConAgra Senior VP, in '98 founded endurance race event management software company 5430 Sports, which he sold to Ironman in '09. He served as USA Triathlon President from '14 to his resignation earlier this month. As president, he led the formation of USAT’s new strategic plan and led the hiring search for current USAT CEO Rocky Harris. He also has played a key role in bringing together the NGB volunteer directors to tackle common issues. Siff, who is retired, is eager to return to the full-time paid staff world. “I’m ready to work my ass off,” he said. “I think there are some quick early wins we can get, and I think there are some huge long-term opportunities."
NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP: Team Handball is one of Team USA’s weakest spots in the entire Olympic program. The U.S. has not qualified for an Olympics since the '88 Seoul Games outside of an automatic bid as host country in '96. It has never finished higher than sixth. The USOC decertified its predecessor governing body, the U.S. Team Handball Federation, in '06 after numerous financial and administrative problems. “No country in the world has a larger number of amazing athletes than the United States, and if we can’t get a number of those great athletes into handball and onto the podium at the Olympics, then shame on us,” Siff continued. “It has been shame on us for a long time, and I savor the opportunity to turn that around.”
