Agee Named to Head U.S. Ski Team

Dennis Agee, director of skiing at Mammoth Mountain, was named Alpine program director of U.S. Skiing Wednesday, and will guide American ski racing efforts in the 1992 Winter Olympics at Albertville, France, as well as the development of future talent.

The appointment was announced in Park City, Utah, by Howard Peterson, president of U.S. Skiing, who acted as interim Alpine director after the firing of John McMurtry last fall.

“Dennis brings U.S. Skiing a wealth of background and knowledge of the sport,” Peterson said. “We’re looking to him to bring leadership, stability and direction to the program.”

Agee, 46, coached the U.S. Ski Team’s women in 1969-70 and later managed the Mammoth Mountain race program for 17 years.

“I told Howard several months ago that this (Alpine director’s) job is the only one that might make me leave Mammoth,” Agee said.

“My goal is to have the best program possible utilizing the existing staff, and to strongly emphasize development. And we need to get what’s needed to make our U.S. Ski Team competitive internationally.”

He said Mammoth Mountain owner Dave McCoy has been supportive of his move but assured him he would always be welcome to return. Said Agee: “Dave told me, ‘Don’t forget us.’ ”