USRowing announces new contracts for its national team coaches prior to Olympic competition. The contract awards would later come under fire after the Rio results disappointment.
USRowing's hopes that a blueprint toward a solid Olympic performance put in place the fall of 2012, falls woefully short in Rio. The women's eight capped its quest for a third, consecutive Olympic championship, and women's single sculler Gevvie Stone won silver. They were the only two medals won for the U.S. in rowing. Stone's medal came from an athlete training outside the national team system.
The men's team advanced only two boats into the finals, including the men's eight and lightweight men's double. The eight failed to qualify for the Games at the 2015 world championships - the second consecutive time of the Olympic previous cycles - throwing the men's national team into survival mode, forcing early selection for the eight and a run to the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.
The men's eight finished fourth. The men's four and lightweight men's four, USRowing identified priority men's crews, failed to reach the final.
USRowing announces the formation of Task Force that is asked to produce "A comprehensive report that outlines findings and recommendations, including the setting of performance markers for the next four years, will be presented to the USRowing Board of Directors and CEO at the December meeting in Springfield, Mass. The Task Force’s report will have a profound impact on how USRowing’s funds and resources are used to develop and retain athletes over the next quadrennial.
USRowing announces that the Task Force findings are not completed and will be delayed. The delay results in widespread criticism in the rowing community, much of it on social media.
row2k reports that four USRowing Board of Directors, including President Erin O'Connell, treasurer Gary Caldwell, and members Dan Herbert and Sohier Hall resign. The news is accompanied by speculation that CEO Glenn Merry will also be leaving USRowing.
USRowing announces Merry will step down on April 15. A search for his replacement begins.
USRowing announces the formation of a new High Performance Committee and the appointment of four new members. Rob Milam is named chairman of the committee days later.
Men's coach Luke McGee resigns. A search for a new men's coach begins.
USRowing announces it has retained executive search firm search firm Korn, Ferry to assist in finding a new CEO.
row2k reports USRowing has entered into a exclusive sponsorship deal with Nike apparel licensee Athlete Performance Systems that freezes out all competitive clothing vendors from all USRowing owned regattas. Reaction to the deal enflames the rowing community on social media. Vendors demand answers.
row2k reports that USRowing believes the Nike deal to be non-binding and that that the agreement was signed without the board of directors actually seeing the specific terms and details of the contract and that chief marketing officer Beth Kohl is leaving the organization.
row2k reports the Nike agreement has been reworked and that the exclusivity clause has been struck. Vendors are again invited to participate at USRowing regattas.
USRowing announces Mike Teti has been hired to lead men's national team into the 2017 World Rowing Championships in September at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla.
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