Doug Logan
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{short description|American sports executive}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Doug Logan
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| office = 1st Commissioner of Major League Soccer
| term_start = January 21, 1995
| term_end = August 3, 1999
| nominator =
| appointer =
| predecessor =
| successor = Don Garber
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1943}}
|birth_place = New Jersey, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = Manhattan College
University of Baltimore Law School
}}
Douglas George Logan y Gonzales de Mendoza (born 1943) is an American sports executive.{{cite web |last1=Hersh |first1=Philip |title=On track with a new boss |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/07/on-track-with-a.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |date=July 18, 2008}} He was the inaugural commissioner of Major League Soccer, and later was the CEO of USA Track & Field.
Early life
Logan was born in New Jersey to an American father and Cuban mother.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Billy |title=Couple shares desire to expand arts scene |url=http://archive.heraldtribune.com/article/20070121/News/605197771 |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=January 21, 2007}}
He was studying civil engineering at Manhattan College when he was drafted into the military in 1964. He served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and was decorated with two Bronze Stars. He later studied at the University of Baltimore Law School, graduating in 1972.{{cite web |last1=Schoettle |first1=Anthony |title=Racing toward a new biz plan: Goals for USA Track & Field: Raise money; don't drop the baton |url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/14533-racing-toward-a-new-biz-plan-goals-for-usa-track-field-raise-money-don-t-drop-the-baton |publisher=International Business Journal |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |date=September 1, 2008}}
Career
=Early career=
From 1986 to 1993, Logan was a senior vice president of Ogden Entertainment Services. He later became president and chief executive officer of Mexican entertainment company OCESA.{{cite news |last1=Goff |first1=Steven |title=MLS Names A Soccer Novice, Doug Logan, As Its Commissioner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/11/22/mls-names-a-soccer-novice-doug-logan-as-its-commissioner/c1c976a7-dcd5-4f2a-bb75-42cf2c0d9165/ |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |work=The Washington Post |date=November 22, 1995}} Under his management, the Mexico Aztecas of the Continental Basketball Association became the first American professional sports franchise based in Mexico.{{cite news |last1=McMahon |first1=Colin |title=CBA Takes USA South Of The Border |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-11-20-9411200193-story.html |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 20, 1994}} The Aztecas relocated to San Diego and became the Wildcards for the 1996 season before folding.{{cite news |last=Zeigler |first=Mark |date=January 12, 1997 |title=Wildcards left no assets, lots of unpaid bills |page=C2 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune}}
=MLS Commissioner=
In 1995, Logan was named the first commissioner of Major League Soccer, working in that capacity through 1999. Sports Business Daily named Logan and the MLS staff Sports Industrialists of the Year for 1996.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} During Logan's last year at MLS, the league lost $34 million.See Don Garber MLS was reported to have lost $250 million in its first five years under Logan.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html|work=The New York Times|title=For M.L.S., the Sport's Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder|date=November 11, 2005|first=John|last=Eligon|accessdate=November 17, 2008}}
=Later career=
In 1999, Logan formed the sports consulting firm Empresario. In 2001, he was hired as a consultant in the creation of a professional National Rugby League, structuring the new league as a "single entity" system.
In 2008, Logan was appointed the CEO of USA Track & Field. In September 2010, the USATF Board announced it had fired Logan.{{cite news |last1=Ungrady |first1=Dave |title=USA Track Dismisses Executive in Charge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/sports/14track.html |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2010}} Logan later filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination which was ultimately settled.{{cite news |last1=Cherry |first1=Gene |title=Former CEO reaches settlement with USATF: court |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-logan/former-ceo-reaches-settlement-with-usatf-court-idUSTRE74J6YG20110520 |accessdate=October 23, 2020 |agency=Reuters |date=May 20, 2011}}