USA Volleyball Hires USOC’s Chris Vadala as COO

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
Email: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 22, 2012) – USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal announced today the hiring of Chris Vadala, a 21-plus year employee of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) with escalating levels of management experience, to serve as the organization’s first chief operating officer (COO) with an effective start date of March 19, 2012.

“I am very pleased and excited to announce that Chris Vadala has accepted the position of chief operating officer for USA Volleyball,” Beal said. “I believe we have ended our search with a terrific addition to our staff who brings great familiarity and experience with our world and operation, yet a fresh perspective that will help us grow, become more efficient, find new ways to achieve success and solve problems. Chris is easy to work with, talk with and believes in collaborative decision making. I am thrilled to be getting someone with his skills, experience and background.”

“I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to join such a successful organization and I very much look forward to joining Doug and the rest of the team at USA Volleyball,” Vadala said. “I’d like to thank the USOC for allowing me the honor of working for the organization over the past 21 years, and I look forward to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to USA Volleyball.”

As the COO and member of the USA Volleyball senior executive management team, Vadala will serve as a collaborator and advisor to Beal and will be the primary leader for the USAV staff that handles all internal and external business operations. Vadala will consult with Beal regarding business strategy, revenue generation, organizational structure, personnel and governance. He will be tasked with budget monitoring and keeping tabs on projected performance against budget in all USA Volleyball divisions. Vadala will serve as a resource to all USAV departments concerning business operations and long-term strategy.

Vadala has 15 years of experience in senior management working inside the Olympic movement, including his current position as a team leader in the USOC’s Sport Performance division. Among his key attributes that will enhance USA Volleyball’s operation include a broad understanding of long-range strategic planning, staff management and development, financial analysis, contract negotiations, account/portfolio management and grant administration.

“Chris is an experienced and successful sport professional and has been an invaluable member of our sport performance team at the U.S. Olympic Committee,” USOC Chief of Sports Performance Alan Ashley said. “I’m incredibly happy for Chris and certain that his leadership will contribute to USA Volleyball’s continued success.”

Since April 2009, Vadala has served as a team leader in the USOC’s Sports Performance Division managing the relationship with an assigned group of 13 National Governing Bodies (NGBs). In his current role he assists the NGBs with developing strategies to optimize Olympic and Paralympic preparedness and medal count. Further, Vadala collaborates and advises the NGBs on the development and implementation of strategic long-range and annual sport performance plans. He develops, prepares and manages the annual team budget – including NGB and athlete support – of approximately $6.5 million.

Prior to his current position at the USOC, Vadala served as the organization’s senior director of sport partnerships from November 2005 to March 2009. The position was responsible for all aspects of the USOC Resource Allocation Process designed to align the NGBs goals with the USOC’s goals and mission. Vadala developed, prepared and managed the annual Sport Partnerships budget of approximately $60 million while being responsible for a day-to-day management of 18 staff members including four portfolio management teams.

Vadala graduated cum laude from Ohio University with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and finance. He earned the Olympic Sports Leadership Certification from the Kellogg School of Management in 2009-2010.

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