Following earlier reports that Tim Hinchey will be stepping down from his role as the President and CEO of USA Swimming, the organization confirmed that news in a press release and announced that Shana Ferguson will serve as the Interim CEO.
The release makes no mention of the related report that Lindsay Mintenko will resign as the National Team Managing Director.
“I am excited and appreciate the Board’s confidence in my assuming this role and stand ready to work with the Board and our membership to continue to drive our sport forward,” said Ferguson. Earlier this year, Ferguson received what USA Swimming described to SwimSwam as a title change as her role shifted from Chief Commercial Officer to Chief Operating Officer.
Ferguson arrived at USA Swimming in 2019, two years after Hinchey was appointed CEO. Before USA Swimming, Ferguson, who swam collegiately at the U.S. Naval Academy, worked in executive-level roles at Under Armor and Icahn Automotive Group.
In its release, USA Swimming stated that Hinchey “will be leaving USA Swimming to pursue other opportunities.” Board Chair Chris Brearton reflected, “Tim’s innovative vision to conduct the Olympic Trials in a football stadium was a bold and groundbreaking move…this initiative highlighted his ability to think beyond conventional boundaries and his commitment to making swimming accessible and exciting for all.”
In March 2021, Hinchey extended his contract with USA Swimming until 2025. In the release, he commented “It has been a remarkable opportunity to lead the sport I have loved since my youth. I am confident that the future of the organization is bright and will continue to be best in class among the National Governing Bodies and a leader on the world stage.”
Hinchey’s stint as USA Swimming’s CEO was bumpy and grew more unsteady as the organization steered through a post-pandemic world. The growing discontent seemed to reach a head last week when USA Swimming’s Coaching Advisory Council and the American Swimming Coaches Association wrote letters to USA Swimming’s Board of Directors demanding changes from leadership. USA Swimming responded to these letters with one of their own. Addressed to the membership, it responded to some of the concerns raised in the CAC and ASCA letters.
In today’s release, USA Swimming’s Board of Directors also shared their initial plans for hiring a permanent CEO. They announced they “will engage with the membership and promptly form a search committee to identify the individual to lead USA Swimming to LA 2028 and beyond. [We] will anchor the search on the north star of ensuring the success of the sport of swimming in the U.S. from the grassroots to the Olympic level.”
When hiring Hinchey, USA Swimming consulted search firms and engaged a volunteer task force to make their recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. The task force included two former athletes, one current coach, a former USA Swimming president, a swim club founder, and two men with legal experience.
USA Swimming’s Full Release:
Colorado Springs, CO – August 29, 2024 – USA Swimming Board of Directors today announces that Chief Executive Officer and President Tim Hinchey will be leaving USA Swimming to pursue other opportunities.
Tim’s passion for this sport is unmistakable, and the Board is grateful for his relentless efforts to share that passion and to elevate swimming’s public profile. Board Chair Chris Brearton noted, “Tim’s innovative vision to conduct the Olympic Trials in a football stadium was a bold and groundbreaking move that brought the sport to a broader audience, creating unforgettable experiences for swimmers, coaches, officials, and spectators alike. This initiative highlighted his ability to think beyond conventional boundaries and his commitment to making swimming accessible and exciting for all.”
During Tim’s tenure, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program has become preeminent among youth sports and has fortified the organization’s commitment to keeping athletes first. Tim’s time with the organization has also been marked by his team’s efforts to increase the visibility of USA Swimming with new sponsors and supporters. Additionally, he was instrumental in strengthening the USA Swimming Foundation. USA Swimming also successfully weathered the impact of COVID-19 through his leadership.
Reflecting on his tenure with USA Swimming, Tim stated, “It has been a remarkable opportunity to lead the sport I have loved since my youth. I am confident that the future of the organization is bright and will continue to be best in class among the National Governing Bodies and a leader on the world stage.”
The Board is pleased to announce that Shana Ferguson, USA Swimming’s COO, has been unanimously appointed to the role of interim CEO. Shana stated: “I am excited and appreciate the Board’s confidence in my assuming this role and stand ready to work with the Board and our membership to continue to drive our sport forward.” The Board will engage with the membership and promptly form a search committee to identify the individual to lead USA Swimming to LA 2028 and beyond. The Board will anchor the search on the north star of ensuring the success of the sport of swimming in the U.S. from the grassroots to the Olympic level.
The Board will prioritize the well-being and success of athletes, coaches, clubs, officials, and volunteers and is committed to building the base, achieving competitive excellence, and growing the sport.
Board of Directors
USA Swimming, Inc.
He made swimming accessible to all? Hell, I could barely afford to see my own kid swim at trials.
Chris Davis for CEO
Sr, I’m assuming.
I find the formatting of the press release from USA Swimming so strange. It’s not even on official letterhead, and it’s signed “Board of Directors” without specifying who the individuals are. I realize this is not that important in context, but it’s very informal for such a big announcement
There were two versions of the letter that went out. One that went out to coaches was formatted and on what I would consider to be “letterhead”. The one that went out to media (and I presume certain other stakeholders) had no formatting on it.
As for who signed it, this is swimming. Nobody in this sport ever wants to stick their neck out, even if it’s for the sake of positive change.
the board of directors is literally public knowledge on the website. Unanimous decision. No need to put names when they act as one.
If it was a unanimous decision, then what it was, was, a decision that was far from unanimous, and when the math mathed to make a change, everyone agreed to pull in the same direction. Which is how BODs are supposed to behave in situations like this.
But this was definitely not a unanimous decision in anything more than the sense of “providing a united front to the public.”
yes, but it’s still typical to include name and title on memos or press releases. They should be willing to stand by their decisions, and not putting their name on the document is a bit of a cop-out. Not a huge deal, but a lack of professionalism is fairly consistent with what I’ve learned about the organization.
Hey, they signed this one. Progress!
National Team Managing Director, that is Lindsay’s job. There is no National Team Coach to work for. There is no National Junior Team Coach to work for. Hinchey and the BOD failed to hire people at the top. The “Manager Director” had to do the best possible job while not having a Boss. Do this, Do that with no direct input on what the National Team Coach or the Junior National Team Coach wanted. Lindsay is doing her best, too bad Hinchey and the BOD didn’t do their best.
We keep seeing people in this sport push off responsibility. ND guys, this…
If your base salary is $300k+ per year (extrapolating), I don’t think you get to use the “I needed a boss” excuse.
Exactly. Lindsay didn’t fail. The structure did.
Nope. Lindsay failed in all capacities. Selection process of coaches for international teams, unprofessionalism, rude, dismissive, and completely void of knowledge with regard to coach- athlete interactions. Never an attempt to inspire, motivate, or even provide resources to national team coaches or swimmers. Hell, she wouldn’t interact or acknowledge most national team swimmers or coaches let alone non natl team members. USA can do better, though im curious as to what Lindsay’s status is as only Tim is gone. Is she being retained?
I find it quite distressing that we are entering the new quad and its preparation for LA 2028.
All of this personnel changing is really getting off on the wrong foot.
Of course what else was to be done when the previous several years showed a lack of understanding of clubs coaches and athletes by the leadership of USA swimming?
What would have been the right time in the quad to do this?
Given the tight control that leadership had especially over the last 2 years, in reality, there was no good time; but I think that would have been the best opportunity to move the situation forward and have USA swimming ready for a full quad beginning now and going forward.
Honest I think the timing is ideal, kick off the quad with a blank slate rather than start with Tim and have to halt everything after a decent amount of time had passed.
timing is ideal, end of quad right before USAS annual business meeting and house of delegates.
Braden Keith for permanent CEO!
Hard pass.
I’d get fired in less than an hour.
Dang even I last at most jobs longer than that. Props.
“Props” – are you making a movie?
It’d take that long? 😁
How large was his golden parachute?
Guesses?
2.5 million
Guy was making 900k? Gtfo is what you tell him. No parachute. Give him 10% of the proceeds from OTs.
While that’s probably what he “deserves” as an individual employee, they still have to hire the next person. Publicly kicking the outgoing CEO to the curb is probably not a good look to potential candidates.
Undoubtedly a confidential, negotiated separation/resignation agreement – to save the board and staff a dramatic turnover (or public fight). Probably about 1 year’s salary with scheduled/spread disbursements. Thanks to his leadership, USA Swimming cannot afford to pay it in a lump sum.
Or not. In which case, Hinchey read the tea leaves and decided to beat the board to the finish line.