USA Water Polo CEO Chris Ramsey to Retire After 2024 Olympics

Photo Courtesy: NCAA

USA Water Polo CEO Chris Ramsey to Retire After 2024 Olympics

USA Water Polo CEO Chris Ramsey will retire at the conclusion of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Ramsey has worked for USA Water Polo for 17 years, among the longest tenured heads of an American sporting organization. He led the organization to doubling membership over the last decade to 50,000 members. The organization’s revenues have quadrupled since 2006 to $16 million in 2022, providing stable footing for his successor.

“Leading USA Water Polo has been a privilege,” Ramsey said in a USA Water Polo press release. “The successes of USA Water Polo are a testament to the work and commitment of our athletes, coaches, officials, staff and board of directors, as well as our community of parents and volunteers. Our members are passionate about our sport, and I am bullish on water polo’s prospects under the next generation of leadership, especially with the LA Olympic Games coming in 2028.”

Ramsey helped expand the National Junior Olympics into the largest water polo tournament in the world, counting nearly 1,000 entrants in 2023. He also launched the USAWP Olympic Developmental Program in 2009, which began with 300 participants and now has more than 6,000.

In Ramsey’s tenure, the U.S. women’s national team has won three consecutive Olympic gold medals and five World Championships. The U.S. men won Olympic silver in 2008 and are a consistent medal contender if not quite the power that the women have become. Both have qualified for the Paris Olympics.

“Chris’s dedication and visionary leadership have been instrumental in elevating USA Water Polo to new heights. His commitment to excellence has been nothing short of inspirational. We are profoundly grateful for his years of service and the legacy he leaves behind,” said Bill Smith, USA Water Polo Board Chairman.

Also from the press release:

Beyond the medals and accolades, Ramsey’s impact resonates deeply at every level of the sport. His implementation of a club-based athlete safety and risk management program stands as a testament to his commitment to athlete welfare. Under Ramsey, USAWP also established programs and funding to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. He also established meaningful partnerships with the Positive Coaching Alliance and Project Play, which have helped foster a constructive, ethical sporting environment for all.

As a respected advocate and thought leader, he has written about the intrinsic value of competitive sports in shaping successful individuals and, by extension, successful social and economic engines for our nation.

A national search for a new CEO will begin immediately. USA Water Polo has contracted Russell Reynolds Associates/NY to lead the search.

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