Tag: Jeff Plush

Ex-NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush is out at USA Curling after Yates report

Plush was under fire after the Yates report detailed his inaction as head of the NWSL

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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Following Yates investigation, USA Curling board backs former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush

Amid calls for Plush’s resignation, USA Curling is sticking with the former NWSL commissioner

The aftermath of the Sally Yates investigation into NWSL misconduct has reached beyond the pitch, and onto the ice.

USA Curling released a statement Thursday affirming that it will keep former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush on as its CEO.

“The USA Curling Board of Directors called a special session and immediately commissioned an investigation of the information contained in the Yates report regarding USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush’s actions during his time as NWSL Commissioner,” read the statement from USA Curling’s Board of Directors.

“After reviewing the results of this investigation, the USA Curling Board of Directors is confident in Jeff’s ability to continue as an effective leader of the organization. The findings in this investigation, Jeff’s candor during interviews with the Board, and his actions during his time as USA Curling CEO reassured the Board about his strong commitment to upholding the very highest standards for athlete well-being. Additionally, the Board is encouraged by Jeff’s willingness to fully cooperate in the ongoing NWSL and its Players Association investigation.”

Plush did not respond to investigators

Plush, whose tenure with the NWSL ran from 2014 to 2017, has been the subject of calls to resign after the Yates investigation. Several of the major complaints that went ignored happened during Plush’s time as commissioner, and the report specifically said that he “never responded to (the investigation’s) outreach.”

Per the investigation’s findings, Plush did seem to facilitate some level of information sharing between the NWSL, its clubs, and U.S. Soccer. However, according to the report, Plush — despite Mana Shim emailing him directly with her allegations against Paul Riley — did not take action to prevent the Western NY Flash from hiring Riley after he had been fired for cause by the Portland Thorns. Riley would remain in the league, coaching the Flash and North Carolina Courage, until 2021.

Courage owner Stephen Malik 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 as a reason for the inaction.

Plush was also said to have received a survey in which players said former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames had created an abusive work environment. Though Plush emailed officials at U.S. Soccer to call the survey “disturbing,” no action was taken against Dames or the Red Stars while Plush was with the league.

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