EXCLUSIVE
THE SCOOP: MONDAY, JANUARY 6

USTA head Ferman resigns, no longer fits into plans

After nearly seven years on the job, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Rick Ferman announced his resignation Monday, saying that continuing with the job wouldn't help advance new USTA President Alan Schwartz's agenda.

"My resignation reflects a commitment I made to Schwartz in September as we discussed the dynamics that existed throughout the association," Ferman said in a letter to USTA activists. "I made a commitment to Alan at that time that if my stepping aside would help him advance his agenda to benefit tennis, I would do so. With the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission, that time has arrived."

Ferman isn't the only high level executive to leave the USTA in the past month. USA High Performance Chief Paul Annacone left last week and was replaced by the tandem of Paul Roetert and Eliot Teltscher. Longtime USTA High Performance employee and coach Nick Saviano also reportedly left his post last week.

However, Ferman is obviously the most high-ranking USTA employee to exit the USTA. Ferman – a former coach of Todd Martin's – had previously served as vice president of the board of directors in 1995.

FERMAN HAD REFOCUSED ON GRASSROOTS GROWTH
During his tenure, the USTA increased its focus on growing player participation, but also became much more focused on growing revenues, primarily from the US Open. Since he took his post, almost all of upper management of the USTA turned over.

"Rick brought an unusually broad set of skills and experience to the position," said Schwartz. "We appreciate his significant accomplishments and his efforts to increase participation.

Ferman added, "The USTA is a vastly different organization now as compared to seven years ago. At that time, the staff organization had been decimated by the office consolidation in White Plains in which we lost some great people. Only a year earlier the USTA had adopted its first ever mission statement, and we were just beginning to understand the implications of 'growth' after a long history of focusing only on existing tournament players and clubs. And the following year, the US Open took a gigantic step in its history by moving into a new home. I'll never forget the opening night in 1997. There are many accomplishments and achievements that I am particularly proud to have been a part of. Without a doubt, the one that most stands out and of which I am most proud is responding to the board's challenge to strengthen both the national and section staffs. … We started with a $2.7M grant to the sections to help them upgrade their staffs. Today I'm happy to say that the USTA staff is far more professional and capable than it has ever been, at every level."

The USTA will immediately launch a search for a successor.