Former ECAC Bushnell Intern Ogrean Being Inducted into Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame
(Courtesy of USA Hockey)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey and a former Asa S. Bushnell intern at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), will be inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Ogrean was one of two ECAC Bushnell interns employed during the 1977-78 academic year, gaining hands-on experience in the sports industry.
Ogrean will join fellow inductees Jeni Armbruster, Dee Dowis, Sam Hairston, Burdette Haldorson, Dan McKiernan, Edi Scholdan, the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team and the 1978 Wasson High School boys basketball team. The Class of 2011 will be formally enshrined at a banquet and ceremony on Tuesday at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
The 12th annual event, organized by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, will begin at 6 p.m. MDT with a reception, followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m. A sold-out crowd of 700 is expected to be on hand again this year.
Ogrean has been an integral part to the historic growth and success of USA Hockey for parts of the past five decades. Having joined the organization in 1978 as its director of public relations when it was previously called the Amateur Hockey Association of America (AHAUS), he served his first stint as executive director from 1993-99 and returned in 2005 to take on the same role.
Under his leadership since returning to the organization, USA Hockey has developed an unprecented partnership with the National Hockey League; created a new department for membership development that has helped in the resurgence of growth in youth hockey in the U.S.; introduced the American Development Model, a revolutionary player development curriculum for all youth associations; began an annual nationwide celebration called Hockey Weekend Across America; focused efforts on raising the profile of the USA Hockey Foundation, including hiring its first-ever chief development officer; and led efforts that resulted in USA Hockey gaining responsibility for the selection process and induction event associated with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Among his many accomplishments during his first term as executive director, Ogrean oversaw a significant increase in membership and revenue, as well as the construction of the current national headquarters; helped create the National Team Development Program; was a driving force in establishing the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player in women’s college ice hockey; and developed the concept of STAR (Serving the American Rinks) with U.S. Figure Skating.
Ogrean has also been closely involved with the United States Olympic Committee during his time in Colorado Springs. As the USOC's director of broadcasting from 1990-93, he was responsible for creating the initial broadcast division and generated over $12 million in revenue, as well as unprecented exposure for the national governing bodies of Olympic sports. He returned in 1999 as the USOC's deputy executive director of marketing and led the team that, together with the Salt Lake organizing committee, generated almost $200 million.
In addition to his time with USA Hockey and the USOC, Ogrean served as executive director of USA Football from 2002-05. He was recruited by the National Football League and NFL Players’ Association to build a new, independent, non-profit organization to support and promote the sport of amateur football at all levels. Prior to joining USA Football, Ogrean served as president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation where he led the development and creation of the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame, to which he will be inducted into come October, and the Rocky Mountain State Games.
From 1980-88, Ogrean worked at ESPN in corporate communications and programming. Following a successful eight years at ESPN, Ogrean joined the College Football Association as assistant executive director for television. During his two-year tenure, he worked with CBS Sports on remote production, with CBS and ESPN on game scheduling and selection, and helped launch the syndicated series, “This Week in College Football.”
Ogrean received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Connecticut (1974) and his master’s degree in film from Boston University (1978).
Listed among The Sporting News’ Top 100 Most Powerful People in Sports from 1993-99, Ogrean is currently among The Hockey News’ Top 50 People of Power and Influence. He is a member of the nominating committee for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the Board of the Directors for the United States Olympic Committee and the Colorado Springs World Arena, and served on the United States Olympic Committee CEO Search Committee in 2009.
Inductees selected into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame have lived, trained, worked or competed in the Greater Pikes Peak Region of Colorado during their athletic careers or service. In addition, inductees must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and character, and through these characteristics, inspired others. The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame is presented by ColoradoSpringsSports.org.
