Jeff Plush
Jeff Plush (born 1966 or 1967)[1] is the former CEO of the United States Curling Association (USA Curling) and former commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League.
Career
[edit ]Plush served as the Managing Director of the Colorado Rapids from 2006-2011, during which the team won its first MLS title (2010).[2] [3] [4] [5]
In 2014 Plush was named the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League. He succeeded the inaugural commissioner, Cheryl Bailey.
In February 2017, Plush and A+E Networks announced the league's first season-long television deal, which included one match per week to be aired on Lifetime. The deal included A+E Networks taking a 25% equity stake in the league and forming a joint venture to manage and produce the league's broadcast and streaming content.[6]
Plush resigned as commissioner in March 2017, and Amanda Duffy, hired by Plush to be the league's managing director of operations, filled many of the commissioner's roles until a successor was named several years later.[6] [7]
Plush was later hired in April 2017 by sports marketing company BHSC Global to form and lead its properties business group.[8]
In February 2020 he became CEO of USA Curling, the national governing body of the sport of curling in the United States.[9] [10] [11] [12]
The end of Plush's tenure was steeped in controversy due to issues related to the handling of the sex abuse allegations at the NWSL as detailed in the Yates Report [13] and subsequent lobbying by the USA Curling community.[14] He resigned from USA Curling on October 28th, 2022.[15]
References
[edit ]- ^ Olson, Eric (January 21, 2022). "Keeping curling cool goal for sport's chief in US after gold". Associated Press . Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Brazzale, Jacquelyn (January 6, 2015). "Jeff Plush Announced as the Women's Soccer League Commissioner". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ Bird, Liviu (April 8, 2015). "Entering important season, NWSL, commissioner Jeff Plush eye growth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (January 6, 2015). "National Women's Soccer League names Jeff Plush as commissioner". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Boniface, Daniel (December 7, 2011). "Jeff Plush's departure from the Rapids leaked first on Twitter". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ a b "Jeff Plush steps down as NWSL commissioner". The Equalizer. March 2, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ Lauletta, Dan (April 12, 2017). "Amanda Duffy defers on NWSL streaming details". The Equalizer. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ "Executive Transactions". SportsBusiness Daily. April 25, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ Armour, Nancy. "USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush resigns amid criticism he mishandled abuse complaints while with NWSL" . Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ "Jeff Plush Named New CEO Of USA Curling". United States Curling Association. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ "USA Curling Hires Former NWSL Commissioner as New CEO". New York Times. February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ "USA Curling hires former NWSL commissioner as new CEO". Odessa American. Associated Press. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Wamsley, Laurel (October 4, 2022). "5 takeaways from the report on abuse in the National Women's Soccer League". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (October 22, 2022). "USA Curling is in open revolt over its CEO". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "USA Curling CEO out in wake of NWSL inquiry". ESPN.com. October 29, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
