Harvey Wallace Schiller (born April 30, 1940) is an American sports and business executive whose positions have included executive director of the United States Olympic Committee, chief executive officer of YankeeNets, president of Turner Sports, head of the International Baseball Federation and president of the Atlanta Thrashers. He has been named several times as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Sports" by Sporting News.{{cite web|url=https://secure.citadelalumni.org/dcal/detail.php?id=88|title=The Citadel Alumni Association|website=secure.citadelalumni.org|access-date=2018-12-11|archive-date=2018-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130113029/https://secure.citadelalumni.org/dcal/detail.php?id=88|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/en/Journal/Issues/2013/03/11/Champions/Harvey%20Schiller.aspx|title=An American Original|website=www.sportsbusinessdaily.com|author=Tripp Mickle|date=March 11, 2013|publisher=SportsBusiness Journal }} Schiller is currently chairman of Schiller Management Group, CEO of Goal Acquisitions, and chairman of the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership.

Early life

A native of the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Schiller attended Erasmus Hall High School and The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and played football; one of his assistant coaches was Al Davis. Commissioned into the United States Air Force, he attended pilot training and flew more than a thousand sorties on the C-123 Provider in South Vietnam winning the Distinguished Flying Cross.{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Phil |date=1986-08-08 |title=Col. Harvey Schiller of the Air Force Academy, described... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/08/Col-Harvey-Schiller-of-the-Air-Force-Academy-described/3566523857600/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=UPI |language=en}} After earning masters and doctoral degrees in chemistry from the University of Michigan, he spent most of his military career as a permanent professor and head of the Chemistry Department at the United States Air Force Academy, eventually retiring as a brigadier general.{{cite web|url=https://gazette.com/news/david-ramsey-the-day-a-proud-vietnam-war-combat-pilot/article_69c3e4ac-7efb-11e8-b94d-d3ac3b28341f.html|title=David Ramsey: The day a proud Vietnam War combat pilot met Jane Fonda|first=David|last=Ramsey|date=July 3, 2018 |publisher=The Gazette}}

Career

Schiller's sports management career began in 1986 when he was appointed commissioner for the Southeastern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/08/Col-Harvey-Schiller-of-the-Air-Force-Academy-described/3566523857600/|title=Col. Harvey Schiller of the Air Force Academy, described...|website=UPI}} In 1988, he was appointed executive director of the United States Olympic Committee, but resigned after less than three weeks on the job.{{cite news |title=Officially gone |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yp9PAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=The Times-News |date=January 27, 1988}} He returned to the USOC in 1990 and oversaw a restructuring of the organization that led to increased support for athletes and introduction of drug testing; he instituted cash awards for medal winners, oversaw a major renovation of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and added new corporate sponsorships. He was also instrumental in landing the 1996 Summer Olympics for Atlanta and the 2002 Winter Olympics for Salt Lake City.{{cite news |last=Bishop |first=Greg |date=19 April 2009 |title=In Need of Rescue, International Baseball Turns to Harvey Schiller |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/sports/baseball/20schiller.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-02-05 |work=New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://ussa.edu/news/olympic-leader-and-sport-entrepreneur-earns-an-honorary-doctorate-from-the-academy/|title=Olympic Leader and Sport Entrepreneur Earns an Honorary Doctorate from the Academy – United States Sports Academy|first=US Sports|last=Academy}}

In 1994, business mogul Ted Turner tapped Schiller to become the first president of Turner Sports, a fledgling TV sports operation that produces game telecasts for Turner Network Television and TBS; he oversaw expansion that included the creation of Turner South. As the executive in charge of World Championship Wrestling he was the supervisor of Eric Bischoff, then-president of WCW; in a famous appearance on the wrestling show WCW Monday Nitro he suspended Bischoff from WCW on March 3, 1997. In 1997, Schiller also concurrently became president of the Atlanta Thrashers, an expansion franchise of the National Hockey League.{{cite web|url=https://blinktbi.com/leadership_team/brigadier-general-harvey-w-schiller/|title=Brigadier General Harvey W. Schiller, Board of Directors|work=blinktbi }}

In 1999, George Steinbrenner selected Schiller to become CEO of YankeeNets, a conglomerate that owned the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. He was instrumental in creating the YES Network (Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network), a regional cable and sports channel that currently broadcasts games for the Yankees, Brooklyn Nets and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. From 2007 to 2009 he served as president of the International Baseball Federation, who also lobbied for inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games. During his tenure a controversial rule about how extra innings are played was adopted, it became known as the "Schiller Rule".{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=2007-03-02 |title=Schiller named new IBAF president |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070301&content_id=1821011&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&affiliateId=CommentWidget&affiliateId=facebook_share |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229030433/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070301&content_id=1821011&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&affiliateId=CommentWidget&affiliateId=facebook_share |archive-date=2012-02-29 |website=MLB.com}} He served on the executive committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and was also appointed to the board of directors of the Baseball Hall of Fame,{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/about-the-hall/staff/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|website=Baseball Hall of Fame}} and the World Baseball Classic. In 2011, he was elected to The New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame - New York Athletic Club |url=https://www.nyac.org/hall-of-fame |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=www.nyac.org}}

Schiller was chairman of the unsuccessful bid by New York City to host the 2012 Olympics, and was also appointed to the Women and Sports Commission of the International Olympic Committee.{{cite web |last=Hersh |first=Philip |date=2011-04-01 |title=Globetrotting: U.S. Olympic Committee no longer April fools |url=https://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/sports_globetrotting/2011/04/us-olympic-committee-no-longer-april-fools.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Chicago Tribune Newsblogs}} In 2010, he was named to the America's Cup Advisory Board and in 2014 appointed first commercial commissioner; a position responsible for managing, marketing and site selection of the 2017 races held in Bermuda.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/quick_fire_questions/harvey_schiller_the_challenges_and_frustrations_of_selling_the_americas_cup|title=Harvey Schiller: The challenges and frustrations of selling the America's Cup|website=www.sportspromedia.com|date=March 19, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-The-Doc-appointed-as-Commercial-Commissioner/-126105|title=America's Cup- 'The Doc' appointed as Commercial Commissioner|website=www.sail-world.com}} From 2014 to 2018, Schiller was board of directors president for USA Team Handball.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2018/February/05/Board-President-Dr-Harvey-Schiller-Bids-Farewell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310164433/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2018/February/05/Board-President-Dr-Harvey-Schiller-Bids-Farewell|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2018|title=Board President Dr. Harvey Schiller Bids Farewell|website=Team USA}}

Schiller has been chairman of Assante, USA, which provides life and financial management products,{{Cite news |date=2002-06-11 |title=Assante Names Schiller President, CEO |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1023755277514959920 |access-date=2023-09-22 |issn=0099-9660}} and in 2005 he started the GlobalOptions Group, an international risk management and business solutions company.{{cite web|url=https://diversifiedsearch.com/our-people/harvey-schiller/|title=Harvey W. Schiller, PhD}} He has been chairman of Collegiate Sports Management Group and vice chairman for digital media, entertainment and sports practice of Diversified Search and has been on the board of directors of Mesa Air Group, Walker Innovation, Sportsgrid, and Craft 1861.{{cite web|url=http://collegiatesmg.com/dr-harvey-schiller.html|title=Dr. Harvey Schiller|website=Collegiate Sports Management Group}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mesa-air.com/content.aspx?pageID=15485|title=Mesa Air Group|website=www.mesa-air.com}}

He is chairman of USAF Academy Athletic Corporation{{Cite web |title=2023 AFAAC BOD BIO PICS HT |url=https://goairforcefalcons.com/documents/2023/6/16/2023_AFAAC_BOD_BIO-PICS_HT.pdf |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Air Force Academy Athletics |language=en}} and was appointed an honorary member of The Academy Association of Graduates.{{Cite web |title=Honorary Members |url=https://www.usafa.org/heritage/honorary_members |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=US Air Force Academy AOG & Foundation |language=en}} Schiller is also senior advisor to SailGP.{{Cite web |title=SailGP adds key positions to management team |url=https://sailgp.com/news/sailgp-adds-key-positions/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=SailGP |language=en}}

Schiller is chairman of Schiller Management Group, a consulting company. He is a member of the Presidential Commission on White House Scholars.{{Cite web |title=Personnel Announcement |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060511-3.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov}} Schiller serves as CEO of Goal Acquisitions, a special acquisitions company and as the chairman of the board for the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Harvey Schiller Named Chairman of National Medal of Honor |url=https://medalofhonorlec.org/harvey-schiller-named-chairman-of-national-medal-of-honor-leadership-education-center-board/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=medalofhonorlec.org |language=en-US}}

Recognition

Schiller has been awarded honorary doctorates from The Citadel (Two Doctorates), Northern Michigan University and the United States Sports Academy.{{Cite web |title=Harvey Schiller (2001) - Hall of Fame |url=https://citadelsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/harvey-schiller/169 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Citadel Athletics |language=en}} He is a member of The Citadel Athletic, Science, and Business Halls of Fame and was awarded The Citadel's Palmetto Medal Award. Schiller was a recipient of the Ellis Island Award in 1990. In 1994, he was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee. In 2013, he was honored as one of the "Pioneers and Innovators in Sports Business" by Sports Business Journal.{{cite web|url=http://www.citadel.edu/root/schiller-honored|title=Harvey Schiller, '60, honored as innovator, pioneer in sports business - The Citadel - Charleston, SC|website=www.citadel.edu}}{{cite web|url=http://www.asama.org/awards-of-sport/honorary-doctorates/|title=Honorary Doctorates|date=13 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.citadel.edu/root/commencement_honorarydegrees_corps2012|title=Honorary Degrees awarded at Corps of Cadets commencement - The Citadel - Charleston, SC|website=www.citadel.edu}}

Philanthropy

Schiller and his wife Marcia have established the Harvey and Marcia Schiller Surgical Innovation Center at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.{{Cite web |title=Harvey and Marcia Schiller Surgical Innovation Center |url=https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/surgery/center-for-surgical-innovation |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=medicine.musc.edu |language=en-us}} The center is a dedicated center to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiencies through surgical innovation.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Zach |date=2021-09-22 |title=Harvey and Marcia Schiller donate $1M for surgical innovation |url=https://today.citadel.edu/harvey-and-marcia-schiller-donate-1m-for-surgical-innovation/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Citadel Today |language=en-US}} Schiller is also a major donor with his alma mater The Citadel.

Military awards and honors

class="wikitable" \|+ !File:Dfc-usa.jpg !Distinguished Flying Cross !File:AirMed.gif !Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters !File:Us legion of merit legionnaire.png !Legion of Merit
File:Meritorious Service w medal.svg !Meritorius Service Medal !File:Air and Space Commendation Medal.jpg !Commendation Medal !File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg !Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster
File:Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg !Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award !File:Air Force Recognition Ribbon.svg !Air and Space Recognition Ribbonwith one Oak Leaf Cluster !File:National Defense Service Medal.png !National Defense Service Medal
File:Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- clasp.png !Vietnam Campaign Medal !File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg !Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm !File:Vietnam Service Medal, obverse.png !Vietnam Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png !Command Pilot Badge !File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif !Army Airborne Badge !File:USAFABadge.jpg !Permanent Professor Badge

class="wikitable"

!File:Dfc-usa.jpg

!Distinguished Flying Cross

!File:AirMed.gif

!Air Medal
with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters

!File:Us legion of merit legionnaire.png

!Legion of Merit

File:Meritorious Service w medal.svg

!Meritorius Service Medal

!File:Air and Space Commendation Medal.jpg

!Commendation Medal

!File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg

!Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster

File:Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg

!Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award

!File:Air Force Recognition Ribbon.svg

!Air and Space Recognition Ribbonwith one Oak Leaf Cluster

!File:National Defense Service Medal.png

!National Defense Service Medal

File:Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- clasp.png

!Vietnam Campaign Medal

!File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg

!Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

!File:Vietnam Service Medal, obverse.png

!Vietnam Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters

File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png

!Command Pilot Badge

!File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif

!Army Airborne Badge

!File:USAFABadge.jpg

!Permanent Professor Badge

References

{{reflist|refs=

Barry M. Bloom (2 March 2007). [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070301&content_id=1821011&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Schiller named new IBAF president]. MLB.com. Accessed September 2013.

David Cushnan (21 August 2013). [http://www.sportspromedia.com/notes_and_insights/tragedy_politics_controversy_and_farce_now_can_the_americas_cup_get_back_on/ Tragedy, politics, controversy and farce - now can the America’s Cup get back on course?]. SportsPro. Accessed September 2013.

{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x77tlj?autoplay=1&logo=0&hideInfos=0&start=0&syndication=125600&foreground=&highlight=&background= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055506/http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x77tlj?autoplay=1&logo=0&hideInfos=0&start=0&syndication=125600&foreground=&highlight=&background= |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Eric Bischoff Suspended by Dr. Harvey Schiller |accessdate=April 19, 2014|via=dailymotion.com}}

{{cite web|title=USA Team Handball Names Dr. Harvey W. Schiller President|url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2013/December/20/USATH-Announces-New-President|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121004444/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2013/December/20/USATH-Announces-New-President|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2014|website=Team USA|publisher=USA Team Handball|accessdate=31 March 2017|date=20 December 2013}}

}}

{{succession box | before=Aldo Notari | title=President of the International Baseball Federation | years=2007–2009 | after=Riccardo Fraccari}}

{{Chief executive officers of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee}}

Category:1940 births

Category:Living people

Category:International baseball executives

Category:The Citadel Bulldogs football players

Category:People from Flatbush, Brooklyn

Category:Southeastern Conference commissioners

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:World Championship Wrestling executives