Southern California Swimming has announced the hiring of former ASCA CEO Steve Roush as Executive Director, while James Gallagher was hired as General Chairman.
Roush succeeds former Executive Director, Kim O’Shea, who left the post more than a year ago, at SoCal Swimming
“I am extremely honored and excited to have been selected to lead Southern California Swimming as their Executive Director,” Steve Roush said. “My hope is that I can bring my skills and experiences to the role that will help position SCS as the flagship LSC in USA Swimming in all aspects of our operations. It is an incredible time to be the leader of this organization and develop programs & services that will grow and strengthen SCS into the future. With LA28 approaching quickly, SCS is in great position to benefit from all the attention and interest in Southern California for the period leading into the Olympic Games.The future is very bright for our LSC and members.”
The former General Chairman was Mitch Gold, who took a position with USA Swimming. Gallagher will take over and said he looks forward to working with Roush.
“Steve’s extensive background and experience in the sports world makes him the perfect fit to guide the organization to a new level of excellence,” Gallagher said. “As the country emerges from the pandemic, and things start to return to a new normal, I am excited to work with him and see our LSC work towards reaching our full potential.”
Prior to his last position as CEO of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), Steve Roush worked for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as a Sports Partnership Director, eventually being promoted to Chief of Sport Performance where he worked with coaches of numerous sports, in preparation for the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, as well as the 2008 Games in Beijing. He served as an assistant coach at Northwestern University in 1987-88, and then went on to be the head coach at the University of Wisconsin from 1988 through 1994. He was also Assistant Executive Director of USA Swimming 1994-2000. Roush earned his Bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin, as well as his MBA in Finance, Investment and Banking.
Southern California Swimming currently serves a membership of 19,576 athletes spanning from south Orange County to as north as San Luis Obispo county, and as west as Los Angeles and as far east as Las Vegas.