Industry News
Olympics
USA Ski Jumping has announced the addition of a new Sport Development Director to bring fresh potential for success to the United States ski jumping program. A retired U.S. Marine with a deep background in the sport, Steve McNeil brings extensive leadership and human resources experience to a program desperate for Olympic progression.
As Sport Development Director, McNeil will assist in developing the United States’ top talent in the sport, including youth recruitment, club support, coach education, athlete pathway development, event growth, and grassroots programming. He will also work to expand the sport’s grassroots-to-national-team pipeline by connecting with local clubs, coaches, athletes, parents, and national team staff.
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“We are thrilled that Steve has joined our team, bringing a ski jumping background and exceptional managerial skills together to advance our sport’s development initiatives,” USA Ski Jumping CEO Tom Bickner said. “Steve’s knowledge of USA Ski Jumping and his established connections within our community will be invaluable as we move sport development forward.”
McNeil joins USA Ski Jumping after 22 years in the military and two decades of competitive ski jumping. He also previously served as a youth ski jumping coach.
“I am incredibly honored to step into this role,” McNeil said. “Ski jumping taught me many life lessons. The courage and discipline it built in me have shaped my professional career and who I am today. I spent years following the team’s performance from afar, but seeing the strong performance of the U.S. team at Planica last year and the incredible dedication of the staff who support them cemented my interest and aspiration to join USA Ski Jumping.”
With McNeil at the helm of the development process, USA Ski Jumping looks to become a consistent contender at international ski jumping competitions. In the past, the program has struggled to produce top talent that can compete with dominant ski jumping countries like Austria, Slovenia, and Germany. The United States only holds one medal in ski jumping, won at the first-ever Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix, France.
Youth ski jumpers in America typically begin their journeys at the grassroots and local club level before progressing to regional and national competitions. If athletes meet specific criteria set by USA Ski Jumping, they can move up to the national development team before getting a shot at making Olympic rosters. USA Ski Jumping looks to strengthen that pipeline with McNeil, helping get elite coaching and development into the hands of elite youth ski jumpers who hope to progress in the sport.
McNeil’s hire comes as US Ski Jumping begins to ready its athletes for the 2030 Alps Olympics. Preparing athletes for the sport’s biggest stage often takes years, and with proper development, ski jumpers who currently sit on the development team could very well make Olympic debuts in 2030.
As an experienced jumper, coach, and leader, McNeil looks to take ski jumping in the United States to the next level. Although producing and developing talent is a long and grueling process, McNeil and USA Ski Jumping are ready to hit the ground running.
