Team USA returned from Rio de Janeiro with 32 medals, the most by an American track team at a non-boycotted Olympics since 1932. This year, for the first time, the nonprofit offered $10,000 bonuses to all of its Olympic athletes, as well as additional bonuses for medal winners. In the track and field community, many regard Siegel as the best CEO in the organization’s history. “Essentially, we run our business more like a business.”Īs CEO of USA Track and Field, Siegel manages a 501(c)3 nonprofit entrusted by federal law to oversee all levels of the sport domestically - from children competing at the youth level to senior citizens competing at masters level - and to field America’s track team at international competitions, including the Olympics. And with that comes attracting executives who choose USATF over other executive opportunities,” Geer said. “The business of USATF has evolved from what would be more of almost a charity model to a true sports-business model. run his organization, and as long as he does not exceed the budgets that are allocated, I’m comfortable with that.”įirst-class travel for executives, according to Geer, is part of a culture change implemented by Siegel, a 51-year-old former sports agent and record executive, and the board of directors. “Max makes decisions based on what he believes is best in order to. “Max has done a spectacular job,” Miller said. But Miller also acknowledged that the deal that produced most of that new income - a long-term sponsorship agreement with Nike worth a reported $500 million - was primarily negotiated by two former Nike executives whose small consulting firm is collecting$23.75 million in commission payments from USA Track and Field through 2039.

USA Track and Field board chairman Steve Miller defended Siegel’s compensation and perks as necessary to retain the most successful deal-maker in the nonprofit’s history. Siegel’s travel habits are approved by USA Track and Field’s board of directors, which this year is paying Siegel $1.7 million in salary and bonuses, a compensation package seven times the average for the CEO of a nonprofit with a similar budget. Geer denied that Siegel has benefitted personally in any way from USA Track and Field’s work with his business associates. Siegel initially agreed to an interview for this story then canceled and designated USA Track and Field Chief Marketing Officer Jill Geer to speak on his behalf. While a prior USA Track and Field chief executive only flew coach, Siegel regularly flies first class, recently used a private jet and stays in luxury hotels, former employees said. Under Siegel’s watch, USA Track and Field has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of business to an Indianapolis marketing firm that once advertised itself as “a Max Siegel company.” It is owned by two women whose companies continue to do business with Max Siegel Inc., his personal sports-marketing company. Most former employees spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution from Siegel, who once sent a text message to a retired Olympic athlete in which he said he would “ anyone up that goes after me personally.” Seven of those interviewed had direct knowledge of the organization’s financial records.

Some athletes and former employees are alarmed and dismayed by what they see as Siegel’s soaring pay, lavish spending and unethical nonprofit leadership, according to interviews with more than 40 people who have worked with the organization and a review of hundreds of pages of documents and emails. Within the track and field community, however, Siegel is a polarizing figure. INDIANAPOLIS - In four years as chief executive of USA Track and Field, Max Siegel has built a reputation as a savvy deal-maker who has raised so much money the Olympic sports nonprofit finally can offer decent pay to some Team USA athletes, many of whom scrape by on annual incomes of $20,000 or less.

Max Siegel became CEO of USA Track & Field in 2012.

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