, September 4, 2025
News Summary
In a significant shift for USA Swimming, a golf industry veteran has been appointed as the organization’s new President and CEO, effective September 17, 2025. This comes after a lengthy search following leadership turnover amid challenges in the sport. The new leader aims to leverage their experience in membership-driven sports to grow participation, increase revenue, and better support athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Colorado Springs — Big Move in Aquatics: Golf Executive Takes the Helm at USA Swimming
In a shake-up that reads like a crossover chapter from the clubhouse to the pool deck, a veteran executive from the golf business has been named the new President and CEO of USA Swimming. After a year-long search following the departure of the previous chief executive, the organization has tapped a leader known for scaling membership-driven sports businesses and building revenue engines — a hire set to take effect on September 17, 2025.
From Golf Boards to Pool Lanes: Why This Hire Matters
The incoming chief spent recent years running the golf operations of a major sports and entertainment services company, where the playbook focused on growing participation, crafting partnerships, and delivering hospitality-level experiences to members and fans. For golf fans reading this, imagine the same behind-the-scenes muscle that turns an underused course into a regional hub for events and memberships — now aimed at building momentum for a nationwide swim community.
End of a Rocky Year
The announcement brings closure to a search that stretched across 371 days after the exit of the prior leader in August 2024. That interval included several interim leaders and a turbulent stretch when a short-lived appointment ended following a SafeSport complaint. This churn left the organization in transition while it prepared for the high-stakes window leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The acting CEO has been serving since April 1, 2025, and the new hire will relieve that interim leadership in mid-September.
What the New Leader Will Be Asked to Do
- Grow membership at the grassroots level, turning casual pool users into registered participants and volunteers.
- Increase revenue through smarter partnerships, events, and commercial opportunities without losing sight of athlete needs.
- Maximize momentum ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics, using the Games as a catalyst for participation surges and sponsorship interest.
- Support athletes and coaches to rebuild trust and performance systems after a disappointing run of results at recent world championships.
Bringing a Golf-Like Playbook to Swimming
The incoming CEO admits limited personal history in competitive swimming but brings deep experience with membership-first organizations — a core element of successful golf clubs and country clubs alike. The strategy will lean on listening tours across stakeholders: local clubs, coaches, officials, alumni and top athletes. High-profile champions are expected to be part of that conversation. For golf aficionados, this approach resembles how course operators solicit feedback from members, tour pros, and local associations before reshaping a club’s offerings.
Why Timing Is Critical
With the Olympics three years away, timing is everything. The international team recently faced challenges despite a top spot in the medal count — issues included a wave of illness among athletes that complicated preparations and outcomes. For a nation used to dominating in the pool, this was a wake-up call. The new leader’s mandate will straddle two lanes: rebuild the grassroots pipeline while shoring up high-performance support so elite swimmers can return stronger on the world stage.
Pay and Expectations
Compensation for the post is expected to align with industry norms for national sports governing bodies, projected at $500,000 or more, though exact figures were not disclosed. The board emphasized the need for someone who can drive participation and revenue while understanding the critical role of athlete and coach support systems.
Readiness and Reception
Reactions within the sport are cautious but hopeful. After a period of leadership instability — interim CEOs, one brief appointment that ended amid concerns, and departures to other major sporting events committees — stakeholders want tangible plans and fast progress. The new leader’s experience forging partnerships and scaling membership programs offers a familiar blueprint that golf insiders will recognize: assess the base, invest in service, and monetize thoughtfully.
Bottom Line for Golf Fans
For those who live and breathe pace-of-play and membership dues, the move is intriguing. This hire signals that techniques used to grow golf club participation — strategic partnerships, membership value, and event activation — are being repurposed for the nation’s swim community. If executed like a well-run tournament operation, the plan could turn the next Olympic cycle into a membership windfall and a performance rebound.
FAQ
Who has been named the new President and CEO of USA Swimming?
The organization has hired an experienced sports executive with a background in golf operations. The person will take over on September 17, 2025.
Why was a golf executive chosen for a swimming organization?
Because of proven experience in growing membership-driven organizations, driving revenue, and building partnerships, skills that are transferable across sports and valuable for national governing bodies preparing for a major Olympics cycle.
What immediate priorities will the new CEO have?
Growing membership, increasing revenue, supporting elite athletes and coaches, and leveraging the 2028 Olympics as a growth opportunity.
How long was the search process?
The search lasted 371 days after the previous CEO left in August 2024.
Will the new CEO be paid?
Yes. Industry expectations put compensation at $500,000 or more, though the precise amount was not released.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| New CEO Start Date | September 17, 2025 |
| Search Duration | 371 days after prior CEO left (August 2024) |
| Primary Prior Role | President of Golf at a sports & entertainment services company |
| Key Mandates | Grow membership, increase revenue, support athletes, leverage 2028 Olympics |
| Interim Leadership History | Several interim CEOs and a brief appointment that ended amid a SafeSport complaint; acting CEO in place since April 1, 2025 |
| Projected Salary | $500,000 or more (not officially disclosed) |
This report is presented in the spirit of clear, direct coverage for sports fans who like their reads punchy and to the point — with a little clubhouse sensibility for context. Keep an eye on the calendar: September 17, 2025 will be the first tee-off day for this new leadership experiment at the pool.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- SwimSwam: USA Swimming Announces New CEO
- Sports Business Journal: USA Swimming Hires Kevin Ring as CEO
- Swimming World Magazine: USA Swimming Hires Kevin Ring
- The Sports Examiner: Kevin Ring as New Chief Executive of USA Swimming
- NBC Sports: Kevin Ring Named USA Swimming CEO
- Wikipedia: Swimming
- Google Search: USA Swimming CEO News
- Google Scholar: USA Swimming Kevin Ring
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Swimming
- Google News: USA Swimming Kevin Ring
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