USA Swimming has appointed Chrissi Rawak as its new President and CEO. Rawak, who has been the Director of Athletics at the University of Delaware for nearly nine years, takes over from Tim Hinchey, who left last August.
Rawak is a former swimmer from the University of Michigan, where she competed from 1988 to 1992. She was the first woman Director of Athletics at Delaware and was recognized as Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2024.
Born in Newton, Pennsylvania, Rawak swam for Germantown Academy and was part of the school’s national championship team in 1987. Under her coach Dick Shoulberg, she focused on distance events like the 1500/1650 freestyle and the 400 IM.
After college, she joined Michigan as an assistant coach, where she helped shape young athletes and learned valuable lessons about teamwork and leadership. “I owe a lot to swimming for who I am today,” Rawak reflects. “The discipline and perseverance from the sport have been invaluable in my life.”
After coaching, Rawak worked at Northwestern University in alumni relations and then returned to Michigan. She eventually became an executive senior associate athletic director, overseeing external relations and strategic initiatives.
Rawak stayed connected to swimming, following the sport closely despite stepping away from direct involvement. Last year, Delaware celebrated its first-ever NCAA men’s qualifier, Toni Sabev.
The search for a new CEO began last October, led by a task force including Katy Arris-Wilson, who swam at the University of Texas during the same years as Rawak at Michigan. Hinchey had held his position for over seven years, and his departure followed a disappointing performance from the American swimming team at the Paris Olympics.
Rawak’s salary at Delaware was listed at $648,383, with additional bonuses bringing her total earnings to over $704,000. While her exact compensation at USA Swimming is still unknown, it may exceed the projected range of $500,000-$600,000 based on her previous pay.
Looking ahead, Rawak plans to move to Colorado Springs for her new role. One of her first goals is to hire a new National Team Managing Director after the previous director, Lindsay Mintenko, departed last summer. She is eager to connect with coaches, athletes, and families to understand their needs and enhance the sport.
Rawak aims to elevate swimming on both domestic and global platforms, especially with the upcoming LA Olympics. She understands the importance of forming partnerships within the swimming community and is committed to fostering a positive environment for growth and excellence.
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Chris Brearton,Chrissi Rawak,Dick Shoulberg,Jim Richardson,Jon Urbanchek,Katy Arris-Wilson,Lindsay Mintenko,Tim Hinchey,Toni Sabev
