As US Squash prepares for squash’s Olympic debut, the organization is elevating its commitment to High Performance and Performance Innovation. To realize its bold vision for the future of American squash, US Squash is restructuring its High Performance Team and will launch a national search for the organization’s first Chief Performance Officer (CPO). The search will begin in December, immediately following the World Team Championships.
The CPO will be the senior leader responsible for establishing and executing the overall strategy, structure and culture of elite performance for US Squash. The CPO will report directly to US Squash CEO Mollie Marcoux Samaan and will oversee the full high-performance pathway—from junior development and national teams through senior international competition and Olympic athlete preparation.
This investment is about more than preparing for a single Olympic Games. It is about building a world-class American performance culture—one that connects junior development to the professional ranks, brings together the best coaches and performance experts in the country, and creates meaningful opportunities for athletes to pursue excellence at every stage of their journey.
The CPO will also play a central role in supporting the broader U.S. squash performance ecosystem. This will include supporting our highest potential athletes, coaches, clubs, academies, colleges and elite programs throughout the country, while creating strong connections between these organizations and US Squash’s national high performance programs.
In addition to working closely with National Team athletes and coaches, two defining responsibilities of the new role will be the creation and leadership of a Performance Innovation Center and the development of US Squash’s first two-year in-residence Amateur-to-Pro Development Program. Both initiatives will be based at the world-class Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Nick Taylor, who has served as the Ganek Family US National Head Coach, will continue on staff within the new High Performance structure in a newly designed role focused on the player development pathway. He will report to the CPO and will focus on junior talent identification, national and regional elite junior programming, squads, camps and international competition, supporting individual athlete development and appropriate PSA participation, and working collaboratively with National Team athletes’ personal and college coaches to provide the resources/support needed to help athletes reach their peak performance.
National Team / High Performance Committee
A newly constituted National Team / High Performance Committee has also been formed to advise on the hiring of the new Chief Performance Officer, serve as the selection committee for National Team athletes and coaches, and to help architect the future of US Squash High Performance. The committee will be led by Marcoux Samaan and will include US Squash staff, Board Members, and senior athletes along with the return of legendary 17-time National Champion Trinity College Head Coach and former Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach, Paul Assaiante and former US National Team Director and current Director of Squash and Padel at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rich Wade who will all utilize their experience and expertise to help design the world’s best Elite National Team training approach.
The committee will also work closely with current senior athletes, the nation’s top coaches and highly respected high-performance leaders across a range of performance disciplines.
During the search for the Chief Performance Officer, US Squash will operate through an interim High Performance leadership structure designed to provide continuity across the full program. Chief Programs Officer Kim Clearkin will continue working closely with Marcoux Samaan on program operations, including the organization’s relationship with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and will work toward successfully transitioning High Performance leadership to the new CPO. Nick Taylor will continue to lead junior player development and Junior National Team programming as he transitions into his new pathway role. Rich Wade will serve as Olympic & Senior Team Advisor, providing focused support to Senior National Team athletes and Olympic hopefuls, including training coordination at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, tournament support and resource management. Coach Assaiante will play an important consultative role, helping to establish a sustainable culture of performance excellence and helping support athletes as they pursue their dreams in squash.
“The future of US Squash has never been brighter,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, US Squash CEO. “We are incredibly excited about the opportunity ahead and look forward to working collaboratively with the broader squash community to build an exceptional high-performance system and propel American squash to the highest levels of our sport. We are committed to strengthening the pathways, resources, expertise, and support necessary to help our athletes reach their full potential—and, ultimately, reach for Gold. Go USA!”
US Squash will continue to keep the squash community informed as this work progresses and as new initiatives are launched. US Squash looks forward to building this future together—with athletes, coaches, clubs, academies, universities, partners, and the entire American squash community.
SOURCE: US Squash
