Ousted Blackmun Leaving USOC

Three days after losing a bid to stay on as chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Scott Blackmun said Wednesday he is leaving the organization.

Blackmun, 44, a lawyer, served for the past year as interim CEO of the USOC. On Sunday the USOC’s policy-making executive board selected Lloyd Ward, the former head of Maytag Corp., as its new CEO. The vote was 13-8.

Ward formally takes over Nov. 1.

Blackmun had been urged by some supporters to stay on in another role with the USOC. But he told Ward before a one-hour, one-on-one meeting Wednesday at USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., that he intends to move on--to what yet, he’s not sure.

“I wish the USOC and in particular Lloyd great success,” Blackmun said, adding that he likely will help Ward with certain projects “for an undefined period.”

Blackmun’s decision comes before a meeting this weekend of the USOC’s Board of Directors in Salt Lake City.

He said he also notified USOC President Sandra Baldwin on Wednesday of his decision.

She had originally supported Blackmun for the job; her support wavered, however, during a lengthy search process.

“She said she understood,” Blackmun said. “I don’t think this came as a great shock to anybody.”