WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – University of Portland tennis alum Michael Dowse '89 has been named Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association, the organization announced on Thursday. Dowse will make the transition from his current role as President of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and officially begin on January 1, 2020. The announcement was made by Patrick Galbraith, USTA Chairman of the Board and President, who led the search for current CEO Gordon Smith's replacement.

As CEO and Executive Director, Dowse will be charged with leading the USTA's overall vision and its strategy for the growth of tennis participation with juniors, and adults at all levels, while also ensuring diversity throughout the sport. He will provide direction and support and collaborate with USTA sections, districts, Community Tennis Associations, and national committees for all of the USTA's grassroots efforts.  Additionally, he will set the strategic direction and lead the USTA's involvement in professional tennis in the U.S. and throughout the world, developing strategies to further promote the health and viability of professional tennis in the United States.

Dowse was a four-year player on The Bluff from 1985-89. He earned team Most Valuable Player honors in 1986 and 1988, as well as the Most Inspirational Player award in 1987. Dowse posted a career record of 52-44 in singles and 48-33 in doubles as a collegiate player. He also met his wife, Jennifer, while at Portland. Jennifer Dowse (nee Rooklidge) was a four-year letterwinner for the Pilot volleyball team from 1984-87 and still ranks third all-time in aces (123) at the Division I level in school history.

"It is always exciting to see former Pilots go on to successful careers," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "Mike has been an impactful figure in tennis for a number of years and now he will take on one of the most important roles in the world for our sport. It is a great lesson in hard work and perseverance for our current and future players."

"Mike has been a great supporter and partner for the University and our tennis programs," noted Portland Vice President for Athletics, Scott Leykam. "We are thrilled for this new opportunity that Mike has earned and know he will make a big impact at the USTA."

He has gone on to an impressive career in the sports business world, most recently serving as President of Wilson since 2013. Dowse was responsible for the company's global strategy, corporate operations and manufacturing across more than 160 countries. He oversaw the company's growth and productivity initiatives, including innovation, digital transformation, product development, the formation of new business and partnerships, and the expansion of Wilson's footprint in racquet sports, team sports, baseball, softball and golf.

"Michael's experience as a proven industry executive and his long history with our sport, make him the ideal candidate for this position," said Galbraith.  "The USTA is poised for growth, and we believe Michael will be the catalyst we need." 

While leading Wilson, Dowse was instrumental in the company's year-over-year increases in profitability and market-share gains.  He led the acquisitions of the Louisville Slugger and EvoShield brands, which have significantly bolstered the company's baseball presence and offerings.  Prior to his role as President of Wilson, Dowse held progressive positions within Amer Sports, and before that he was Director of Tennis Footwear for Nike, Inc.

"Having grown up playing tennis and being part of a family committed to community tennis, I feel very fortunate to be in a position to lead the USTA.  I look forward to working collaboratively with the passionate volunteers, professional staff, current and past USTA board members, and industry leaders to promote and develop the growth of tennis," said Dowse.  "I also would like to recognize the incredible achievements of Gordon Smith and the USTA team over the last several years.  The foundation for growth is well established with proven assets such as the US Open, the USTA National Campus and the recent launch of Net Generation, our new youth tennis initiative."

About The USTA 
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 655,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking six summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.