Jeff Plush has resigned as CEO at USA Curling amid growing scrutiny over his role in the Yates report.
Plush served as commissioner of the NWSL from 2015 to 2017, a period during which several ugly incidents of abuse were documented in the Yates report.
The report detailed how Mana Shim emailed Plush directly with allegations of “persistent and unwanted advances” from her coach Paul Riley, but the commissioner did not take action to prevent the Western NY Flash from hiring Riley after he was fired by the Portland Thorns.
North Courage owner Stephen Malik also told investigators that when he asked Plush about Riley’s departure from Portland, “Plush either demurred that he would look into it or declined to share,” citing legal confidentiality.
The Yates report said Plush “never responded to our outreach.”
Plush’s resignation came just two weeks after USA Curling released a statement backing him and saying he would be staying on as CEO.
But it appears that pressure from the grassroots levels had an effect.
“Our steadfast commitment to the curling community has not changed,” the USA Curling statement read. “But in recent months, our relationship with this community has been damaged. We have not communicated effectively, and some believe we have not listened. There has been anger, frustration, and confusion.
“We see you. We hear you. We care about you. Our priority is to rebuild trust. To start that process, today we lead with action.”
Plush had been USA Curling’s CEO since February 2020.
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