USOC communications officer is #19 of influential sports figures

Seven years ago, Darryl Seibel was on the list of AllBusiness.com's Forty Achievers under 40. Back then, Seibel was the director of operations and strategic planning for the Colorado Springs Sports Corp.

But the Olympic movement must have been too strong to let go. Seibel, now 40, worked for USA Wrestling, USA Hockey and the U.S. Olympic Committee before the Sports Corp. And after the Sports Corp., where Seibel even served as an interim president and CEO, he returned to the USOC as its chief communications officer.

In that capacity, Seibel is the organization's official spokesman. He is the liason between the USOC powers that be and the folks reading these words. And as any good public relations official, Seibel is fiercely loyal to all things good about the USOC.

As one media member said, "Seibel is a straight shooter. You know he wears the company shoes, but he's going to tell it like it is more times than not."

That's about as good as compliments get from veteran media members. Seibel is personable. He has the ability to make a cub reporter feel comfortable.

Seibel understands that the people he works for aren't perfect. He knows the organization isn't perfect either. People invest a lot of money and emotion into their Olympic heroes. They want to know the good, bad and ugly of that investment.

Seibel understands that, too, and more importantly, he doesn't run or try to hide from it.

-

Columnist Milo Bryant can be reached at 636-0252 or milo.bryant@gazette.com. Check out Milo's blog, The Extra Milo, at milobryant.freedomblogging.com

To read about Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore, who ranked #20 on the list, go here: http://www.gazette.com/sports/falcons_38959___article.html/tournament_serratore.html