Doug Logan
Encyclopedia
Douglas G. Logan was the Chief Executive Officer
of USA Track & Field, the national governing body for track and field, long distance running and race walking from 2008 to 2010. As CEO, Logan led the USATF paid staff, and worked with USATF's elected President to promote the sport.
Logan was hired by USATF after a nation-wide search, and raised $10 million in sponsorships, but was criticized for not being more successful in fundraising and for fractured relationships within the sport. On September 13, 2010, the USATF Board announced it had terminated Logan. Logan sued USATF over the termination. The case is currently in settlement talks.
Previously employed in his family’s business field of heavy construction and geotechnical engineering
, Logan moved to the sports and entertainment industry when he re-evaluated his career goals in the late 1970s. Moving forward, he was determined “to earn a living from those things that I was most passionate about — music and sports.”
Logan was named the first commissioner of Major League Soccer
, serving in that capacity from the inauguration of the league in 1995 to 1999. He led the league through a record-breaking premier season, averaging over 17,000 fans per match. Sports Business Daily named Logan and the MLS staff Sports Industrialists of the Year for 1996. During Logan's last year at MLS, the league lost $34 million. MLS was reported to have lost $250 million in its first five years under Logan.
Logan formed Empresario, LLC in 1999, a sports consulting and entrepreneurial firm serving diverse clients in North America, Central America, South America and Spain. In 2001, he was brought in as a consultant in the creation of a professional National Rugby League
, much in the same vein as MLS, structuring the new league as a "single entity" system. Logan also serves as Chairman and CEO of Face_iT Technologies, Inc., a company devoted to exploiting innovative facial animation technologies for the film and gaming industries.
Logan was the promoter of the first commercial Arena Football League game in April, 1985. He was a founder, regent and lecturer at the Public Assembly Facility Management School (PAFMS) in Oglebay, West Virginia
. From 1993 until 1995 Logan served as Director General of OCESA, SA, the largest concert promotion company in Mexico
. He was Senior Vice President of Ogden Entertainment Services from 1985 to 1993 and General Manager of the Rockford MetroCentre
from 1979 to 1985. He is a former Vice President of the US Soccer Federation and a former District Vice President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). In July, 2008, the IAAM honored Logan with its Presidential Citation, which recognizes the extraordinary contributions of individuals who have brought great distinction to that industry.
Having been born in Cuba before moving as a child to the United States, and raised in a bilingual, multicultural family, Logan spoke Spanish as his first language. He fought with the 101st Airborne Division
in Vietnam
, where he was decorated with two Bronze Stars. Logan drove a taxicab in New York City
for three years and began his career in the entertainment business as a beer vendor in Yankee Stadium
while attending Manhattan College
.
A lifelong competitive road runner at distances from 10 km to the marathon
, Logan has clocked a marathon personal best under 4 hours.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of USA Track & Field, the national governing body for track and field, long distance running and race walking from 2008 to 2010. As CEO, Logan led the USATF paid staff, and worked with USATF's elected President to promote the sport.
Logan was hired by USATF after a nation-wide search, and raised $10 million in sponsorships, but was criticized for not being more successful in fundraising and for fractured relationships within the sport. On September 13, 2010, the USATF Board announced it had terminated Logan. Logan sued USATF over the termination. The case is currently in settlement talks.
Previously employed in his family’s business field of heavy construction and geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil engineering, but is also used by military, mining, petroleum, or any other engineering concerned with construction on or in the ground...
, Logan moved to the sports and entertainment industry when he re-evaluated his career goals in the late 1970s. Moving forward, he was determined “to earn a living from those things that I was most passionate about — music and sports.”
Logan was named the first commissioner of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, serving in that capacity from the inauguration of the league in 1995 to 1999. He led the league through a record-breaking premier season, averaging over 17,000 fans per match. Sports Business Daily named Logan and the MLS staff Sports Industrialists of the Year for 1996. During Logan's last year at MLS, the league lost $34 million. MLS was reported to have lost $250 million in its first five years under Logan.
Logan formed Empresario, LLC in 1999, a sports consulting and entrepreneurial firm serving diverse clients in North America, Central America, South America and Spain. In 2001, he was brought in as a consultant in the creation of a professional National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, much in the same vein as MLS, structuring the new league as a "single entity" system. Logan also serves as Chairman and CEO of Face_iT Technologies, Inc., a company devoted to exploiting innovative facial animation technologies for the film and gaming industries.
Logan was the promoter of the first commercial Arena Football League game in April, 1985. He was a founder, regent and lecturer at the Public Assembly Facility Management School (PAFMS) in Oglebay, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. From 1993 until 1995 Logan served as Director General of OCESA, SA, the largest concert promotion company in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was Senior Vice President of Ogden Entertainment Services from 1985 to 1993 and General Manager of the Rockford MetroCentre
Rockford MetroCentre
The BMO Harris Bank Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It is currently home to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs hockey team...
from 1979 to 1985. He is a former Vice President of the US Soccer Federation and a former District Vice President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). In July, 2008, the IAAM honored Logan with its Presidential Citation, which recognizes the extraordinary contributions of individuals who have brought great distinction to that industry.
Having been born in Cuba before moving as a child to the United States, and raised in a bilingual, multicultural family, Logan spoke Spanish as his first language. He fought with the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, where he was decorated with two Bronze Stars. Logan drove a taxicab in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for three years and began his career in the entertainment business as a beer vendor in Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
while attending Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
.
A lifelong competitive road runner at distances from 10 km to the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
, Logan has clocked a marathon personal best under 4 hours.