Latest news with #sportsleadership
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson to step down at year's end
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson will step down at the end of the year, creating a vacancy in one of the most powerful jobs in New Zealand sport. Robinson led New Zealand's national sport for six years, through the difficult period of the pandemic when matches often took place in empty stadiums.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump to meet with key college sports decision-makers in golf outing where they'll discuss industry's future
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host two of college sports' most influential leaders Sunday at his golf course in New Jersey. Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey are planning to golf with the president at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in an invitation extended to them by the White House. The three men are expected to discuss the future of college athletics as Trump explores his involvement in the rapidly changing industry. Advertisement Multiple sources spoke to Yahoo Sports about the planned event on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the matter. The significance of the meeting cannot be overstated. It comes two days after a California judge granted approval of a landmark legal settlement (House) that further evolves major college athletics into a more professionalized entity where schools will directly compensate athletes. The two men attending the Trump meeting hold significant decision-making power. Bevacqua presides over one of the country's most influential and valuable athletic departments — a school that's become a national leader during college sports' evolution. Trump holds a longtime relationship with Bevacqua, dating back to his days working as an executive at PGA of America. Sankey is described by many to be the most influential leader in the industry as he manages a conference that, with the Big Ten, is the most valuable and successful in the country. Donald Trump has some history with Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, left, who is seen here in 2015, when Bevacqua was the CEO of PGA of America. (Jeffrey MacMillan for The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) The three men are expected to spend extended time together beyond their round of golf as NCAA leaders seek Congressional and White House assistance for a federal standard to stabilize and regulate what's become an unruly structure. Trump has grown interested in the issues, even deeply exploring the possibility of issuing an executive order and creating a commission to study the many developments — such as player movement in the transfer portal, booster-backed compensation to athletes, and the impact on women and Olympic sports. Advertisement Such a meeting Sunday could trigger action from the White House, or possibly expedite Congressional negotiations over college sports legislation. Five U.S. senators — three Democrats and two Republicans — have held regular meetings over a federal college sports bill for the last several months. However, those discussions have been slowed recently by arising hurdles with bill concepts as well as global and domestic issues unrelated to college athletics. Trump's involvement in college sports is serious enough that he began the creation of a presidential commission and even selected a chair of the group, Texas businessman Cody Campbell. However, partially in an effort to not impact Senate negotiations, the commission work was paused two weeks ago. Advertisement For more than five years now, college leaders have spent millions of dollars in a lobbying effort on Capitol Hill as they seek legislation that deems athletes students, not employees; preempts state NIL laws; and provides protection for the NCAA and power leagues to enforce rules without legal challenges. Next week, the 13th Congressional hearing related to college sports will unfold — this one from members of a subgroup of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A new House bill is expected to be introduced next week as well. The Trump golf outing Sunday comes at a divided time, not just within Congress but in college athletics. Disagreements linger between power conference administrators over an assortment of issues — the transfer portal, the College Football Playoff and even the concept of collective bargaining with athletes. Many athlete advocacy groups, college sports attorneys and those within the sport itself believe that the House settlement will leave many unresolved issues, will elicit dozens of legal challenges on its own and needs to cede to bargaining with athletes, much like pro sports.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ACU Pioneers Sports Leadership with New Center
Center for Sports Leadership and Learning to Empower Professional Athletes and Organizations Nationwide Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2025) - Aspiring sports leaders nationwide now have the opportunity to learn at one of the leading, and most innovative centers in the country. Abilene Christian University just launched the Center for Sports Leadership and Learning, a national hub designed to elevate leadership, performance and organizational excellence across the sports industry. The Center for Sports Leadership and Learning, housed on ACU's Dallas campus, integrates professional development, consulting, academic programs and research to serve athletes, executives and sports organizations navigating the complex dynamics of modern sports leadership. 'At every level of sport, strong leadership is the competitive advantage that drives sustainable success,' said Dr. Stephen Johnson ('90), chief executive officer of ACU Dallas. 'The Center for Sports Leadership and Learning is designed to equip sports professionals with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in high-performance environments.' Trusted by Industry Leaders ACU's growing portfolio of sports programs began in 2022 through a unique partnership with the Texas Rangers. The two institutions teamed up to launch RangersU, which allows players and coaches to earn college credit through online courses. In the past three years, ACU has secured partnerships with more sports organizations, including the Houston Texans, Endebrock Talent Management and the National Amateur Fall Baseball Federation. The Center for Sports Leadership and Learning is the latest development in ACU's journey toward national prominence, positioning the university as a trusted resource for leadership development, career transition support and sports management innovation. 'The future of sports leadership demands a new level of adaptability, character and innovation,' said Ben Baroody, executive director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Learning. 'We help high-performance teams shape the environments that shape them - by aligning leadership development with the real systems that drive culture, decision-making and performance under pressure. Our work integrates strategic clarity with grounded coaching to build cultures where leaders don't just perform - they grow, adapt and lead in ways that stick. Whether in the front office, on the sidelines or inside the locker room, we partner with organizations to move beyond quick fixes and build lasting capacity from the inside out.' Demand for Sports Professionals Over the next several years, the sports industry is projected to experience faster-than-average growth: Programs and Services Overview Professional Development The Center for Sports Leadership and Learning's performance, leadership and character development programs blend cutting-edge sports research, hands-on training and educational resources. Programs focus on tangible growth areas such as emotional intelligence, pressure-driven decision-making and fostering a championship mindset, optimizing personal and professional development both on and off the field. Consulting Services The Center for Sports Leadership and Learning offers expert consulting services to professional teams, sports organizations and academic institutions. With services ranging from leadership development to operational strategy, clients receive actionable insights and customized guidance to cultivate transformational leadership and sustainable success. Academic Programs Research Initiatives Through applied research and development, the Center for Sports Leadership and Learning offers data-driven insights into the sports industry's most critical challenges. Combining academic excellence with real-world experience, ACU's research unlocks competitive advantages for partners across all levels of professional sport. For more information about ACU's Sports Leadership & Learning offerings, visit Contact: Wendy Kilmer, [email protected] Director of Strategic Communications Amanda Gibson, [email protected] Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, ACU Online To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘It is absolutely ludicrous': Ireland manager Carla Ward shocked by skorts controversy
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has questioned whether the executive leadership of the Camogie Association should remain in their roles. Ward's comment follows the postponement of last Saturday's Munster camogie final between Cork and Waterford, after both panels refused to wear 'skorts' instead of shorts as per the rule book. 'It is absolutely ludicrous,' said Ward of the ongoing controversy. 'Some of the [FAI] staff shared it when it first happened, and I did say: 'Is this some sort of joke?' 'It is mental to be even having these sort of conversations in 2025. READ MORE 'It is an old mentality, isn't it? There are still some countries who have an old mentality towards women. It is crazy. We are getting there in a lot of places but, I'll be honest with you, it did blow my mind that anyone in this country could have the mindset that women couldn't wear shorts. 'What does that say about the people at the top? Should they really be there or should they move on, and pass the baton to a different generation? 'Ireland is a big sporting country so it is just unbelievable,' added the English-based coach. 'It is very outdated.' In 2023 the FAI gave the senior women's squad the option of changing from the traditional white shorts for international games, following the lead of the Ireland rugby team changing to navy shorts to address 'period anxiety'. Ward also revealed that Heather Payne (Achilles tendon) and Leanne Kiernan (quad) are out of the Nations League trip to Turkey on May 30th and the final match of the group stages against Slovenia in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on June 3rd. Louise Quinn, however, is set to link up with the squad to potentially add to her 121 caps before she retires from the sport later this summer. 'She has made herself available until the summer,' Ward explained. 'Do I think Lou can play a part in helping those young players breed leadership? Absolutely, I do.' Ireland captain Katie McCabe will be a late arrival into camp, Ward confirmed, and she could miss the Turkey match as her club Arsenal play Barcelona in the Champions League final in Lisbon on May 24th. Amber Whiteley, the Liverpool interim manager, will continue as an assistant coach for the upcoming fixtures. 'O course we want to keep Amber. She has a high level of knowledge, good quality, great around the group. But at the same time, if she gets [the Liverpool] head coach job, I will be the first to congratulate her.'
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Olympic great Sue Bird to be first managing director of USA Basketball women's national team
Sue Bird is giving another assist to USA Basketball, becoming the managing director of the women's national team. The five-time Olympic champion was named to the newly created position Thursday and it marks a major change in the way the organization creates its roster and coaching staff. "I played for USA Basketball for so long and always really enjoyed my time with them," Bird said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I love representing my country. I love being competitive on that stage. To have that opportunity to do it in a different role is exciting." Before the change, a committee made those decisions, but now in a move similar to what the USA men's national team does, Bird will be the one responsible for putting things together. Grant Hill has the same role on the men's side. "We are really, really excited about Sue for so many reasons," USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in a phone interview. "Her pedigree and standing in the sport is so strong. Not just in women's basketball, but all of sport. She's a tremendous leader and we're very excited that she took this on for us." The men's team has had a managing director for two decades with Jerry Colangelo serving in that spot from 2005-21 before Hill took over. "She's had five Olympic gold medals herself and understands what's involved," Tooley said. "Having the managing director position makes it easier to work with the staff for long term vision of the program. It's hard to do that with a committee that comes and goes and gets together a handful of times." Tooley said Bird's term will be for four years — the same as the Olympic cycle — and the change to this structure has been in the works for a few years, well before the decision to not select Caitlin Clark for the 2024 Paris Games team that left some people upset. "Discussions happened after the '21 Olympics and Sue served on the board last quad," Tooley said. "We got in discussions about the managing director role and we sat with her awhile and she gave it a lot of consideration and thought. It's an enormous responsibility." Bird said she's used to the pressure of USA Basketball where it's basically win a gold medal or bust. The Americans have won eight straight, including one at last year's Paris Olympics. "This is a different type of pressure," she said. "I'm hoping to bring all that I learned as a player, all my experience, all my understanding. The whole goal is to win a gold medal and it feels at times that's the only option. ... I know what it's like to be a player, know what it's like as a player to build teams and have teams come together and see what clicks." Before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Americans will play in the FIBA World Cup in Germany next year. The first qualifying event will take place in November. Besides figuring out what players will be on that team, Bird will have to decide who will be coaching the squad. There is no clear-cut choice right now. "Of course I've started to think about it, jotting some names down here and there," Bird said. "It's the first priority without a doubt. There are so many qualified coaches in college and the WNBA." Bird said that she doesn't have a specific time frame to have a coach in place. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
