Distinguished Sports and Entertainment Executive to Launch Hartwick College’s Sport Management Lecture Series Lecture Series

Hartwick College is pleased to announce the launch of its new Sport Management Lecture Series, with the first presentation set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, in the Anderson Theatre, Anderson Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are requested to RSVP in advance. Click here to RSVP.

The inaugural speaker is Doug Logan, a highly regarded sports and entertainment executive who will present “The Frisson of Jeopardy: The

Anecdotal Career of a Sports and Entertainment Executive, Including His Successes and Failures.” In this engaging talk, Logan will provide a behind-the-scenes look at his remarkable career, offering an insider’s perspective on sports as both a business and a cultural touchstone. His presentation will reflect on his successes and challenges in leading two major sports organizations and his diverse experiences in the entertainment industry.

Logan’s career spans over four decades and he is best known for his pioneering role as the founding Commissioner of Major League Soccer (MLS), where he launched the league in 1996 with 10 teams. He also served as CEO of USA Track & Field, leading the team to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Throughout his career, he has consulted with sports organizations around the world, helping shape the future of the industry.

A bilingual Cuban-American, Logan’s expertise extends beyond sports management. As an entertainment executive, he has built and managed venues in five countries and worked with legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2 and Michael Jackson. He is listed in ‘Who’s Who in Entertainment’ for his contributions to the field.

A combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Logan earned two Bronze Stars with Valor as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. He later taught sports management at New York University, inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field.

Logan now resides in Saratoga Springs, where he writes, lectures and mentors former colleagues and students. He enjoys hiking and has completed two routes of the Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain, and has walked the Erie Canal.

The Sport Management Lecture Series is an exciting new initiative at Hartwick College designed to bring prominent figures in sports management to campus to engage with students, faculty and the broader community. The series reflects the College’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, providing real-world learning opportunities and strengthening its longstanding tradition of athletics. Hartwick has been home to a strong athletic program for many years and the new lecture series underscores the College’s dedication to preparing students for successful careers in the dynamic world of sports.

“We are thrilled to have Doug Logan as the first speaker in our Sport Management Lecture Series,” said Hartwick President James Mullen. “Doug’s extraordinary career and wide-ranging expertise will bring invaluable insights to our students, helping them explore the opportunities and challenges of pursuing careers in sports and entertainment management. At the same time, his visit is an incredible opportunity for our broader Oneonta community to hear from a leader who has shaped the sports industry on a global scale. We are so proud to host this event and look forward to welcoming Doug to our campus.”