USA- Swimming has published a press-release that outlines the process for hiring a replacement for Mark Schubert as the National Team Director.
Among other issues addressed, the committee will be made up of Olympic Internal Operations (OIOC) head Michael Lawrence, two current National Team coaches, and two recently retired National Team Coaches (one man and one woman).
There has been a big-time rush put on the decision, with the repeated emphasis that the process will be done in a manner that “continues momentum” towards the 2012 London Olympics. Applications will be accepted between now and the end of the year, with a decision expected to be made by February.
The release also gives a broad definition of the changed role of National Team Director (formerly National Team Head Coach). It appears to be shifting from a position that formerly held more direct contact with swimmers to a more overall, managerial role that will put more of the coaching responsibility on the other National Team coaches. There is still a lot of ambiguity about specifically what duties the National Team Director has aside from his or her visible position at National and International Championship meets. With USA-Swimming making a new push towards better visibility and transparency with its membership, however, this question might be answered sooner rather than later.
Here is the full release from USA-Swimming, unedited:
Since announcing plans to identify and name a new National Team Director, a number of questions have been asked. In an effort to have as open and transparent a process as possible, USA Swimming thought it would be helpful to organize these questions into a single list and provided answers. These questions and answers were developed with the input and approval of National Team Leader, Jim Wood; OIOC Chair, Michael Lawrence; and Assistant Executive Director, Mike Unger.
Why has the job title been changed from National Team Head Coach to National Team Director?
The reason for this is that we believe the National Team program will be best served by someone whose primary focus is on providing overall leadership to the National Team program, with a focus on working collaboratively with National Team coaches and others in helping National Team athletes achieve success at the Olympic Games.
Who will be involved in making the selection?
An application review committee is being established to conduct the preliminary review of applications and present recommendations to the Executive Director. The review committee is being given wide latitude in making recommendations. This committee will be led by OIOC Chair, Michael Lawrence and will be comprised of two National Team coaches (neither of whom may be a candidate for the job), two recently retired National Team athletes (one male and one female), and the ASCA Executive Director.
Who will make the final hiring decision?
All USA Swimming staff are hired and serve under the supervision of the Executive Director. The final decision will be made by the USA Swimming Executive Director, with consultation from the current Interim National Team Leader, Jim Wood (who is not a candidate for the job), and with input from the review committee. The objective is to have unanimous consensus from these individuals on a final candidate.
Because this is a high profile job how will the confidentiality of high profile candidates be protected?
We recognize that there may very well be highly qualified candidates who will be hesitant to participate in a review process that could compromise their confidentiality and create an awkward situation for them with their current employer and with athletes and others with whom they are currently working. For this reason, we will be open to having individuals express their confidential interest directly to the Executive Director, Jim Wood or Michael Lawrence. However, prior to any final decision members of the review committee will be consulted and given the opportunity to provide input and ideally endorse the final candidate.
What is the timetable for the search process?
We have three objectives: (1) a smooth and timely transition in leadership; (2) maintain momentum with the current 2012 Quad Plan; (3) have the right person in place for the future (2016 Quad). The immediate timeline is Applications (thru December 31, 2010), Review (January 2011) and Hiring (February 2011).
When will the new National Team Director begin work?
Our goal is to find the very best person for the job and we understand that the best person may not be immediately available. Ideally, we would like to have the new National Team Director onboard before next summer. However, it is conceivable that the best person could be someone who is committed to working with their current athletes and team through the 2012 Olympic Team Trials and London Olympic Games, and if this is the case we do have a tentative plan for how this would be accommodated.
Will the new National Team Director be expected to relocate to Colorado Springs, or can they work from their current home locations?
The National Team Director will be required to relocate to Colorado Springs and be based at the USA Swimming national office. This position manages and oversees the entire National Team Division (staff and administrative tasks) as well as interacts regularly with the USOC and USA Swimming staff. These responsibilities are best done with Colorado Springs as home base.
What is the relationship that the National Team Director will be expected to have with the Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee is the National Team Director’s primary advisory and support group. The National Team Director is expected to share all National Team plans and seek the input and endorsement of the Steering Committee for all National Team strategies, programs and services. There will be a Steering Committee Chair who will not be the National Team Director.
What level of authority and autonomy will the National Team Director have in making decisions related to National Team programs and services?
The National Team Director is expected to lead the efforts to plan and implement USA Swimming’s High Performance Plan. This plan requires approval of the Steering Committee; and endorsement by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the USA Swimming Board of Directors via the annual budget approval processes. The Executive Director provides support to this effort, but it is the National Team Director who has oversight authority for the development and implementation of the High Performance Plan.
Will Lindsay Mintenko remain in her role as Managing Director for the National Team program, and if so, how do her responsibilities fit with the expectations for the National Team Director?
Maintaining the momentum of our current 2012 Quad Plan is critical and USA Swimming has no plans to make additional personnel changes in the National Team Division at this time. Any future changes to the division would be under the direction of the new National Team Director and made in consultation with the Executive Director, and others as appropriate.
Will anyone else be consulted in the search process?
Because the National Team Director will directly supervise the National Team Managing Director and the Youth Team Head Coach, both of these individuals will be given the opportunity to provide their confidential input to the Executive Director prior to a final hiring decision.What will happen with the Post-Grad and Professional Athlete Training Programs that have been established?
The existing programs will continue to be supported through 2012 and remain under regular review. Following the London Olympic Games, the National Team Director and Steering Committee will conduct a detailed review and present recommendations to the Board of Directors for the next quad. In the meantime, no new programs will be established or funded.