Louisville Sports Commission CEO Karl F Schmitt Jr. to Retire in February 2023

Louisville Sports Commission President and Chief Executive Officer Karl F. Schmitt Jr. has announced that he will retire in February 2023 after leading the organization for the past 12 years.

“It’s been a great run, a labor of love,” Schmitt said. “Our team is amazing. I look forward to working with them for another 12 months to support our clients and partners and help with the transition.”

The Louisville Sports Commission board has appointed a leadership transition committee to determine a successor with work beginning in the spring.

The LSC was founded in 1999 to attract sporting events to Louisville that generate positive economic impact with the local travel and tourism industry. In the time since Schmitt has been at the helm, the organization has expanded its mission to include community-focused programs around active lifestyles and workforce initiatives.

“Karl’s outstanding leadership and work ethic have been instrumental in elevating the Sports Commission’s productivity and creating a high level of financial stability,” LSC Board Chairman Philip S. Poindexter said. “He assembled a strong team that is passionate about how sports can help improve our local economy and enhance the quality of life in our community. Through the efforts of Karl and the team, the Sports Commission is well-positioned for growth.”

Since Schmitt joined in 2010, Louisville has generated more than $1 billion in local economic impact by hosting more than 60 NCAA championships across all three divisions; numerous world and national championships in cycling, fencing and gymnastics; large youth basketball, volleyball, archery, lacrosse, cheerleading and wrestling tournaments; major sports conferences and conventions; and the largest Ironman in the world. In 2017, the group now known as Sports ETA recognized the LSC as its Large Market Sports Commission of the Year.

During Schmitt’s tenure, the partnership between the Louisville Sports Commission and Louisville Tourism has resulted in more than triple the number of hotel room night stays generated by inbound sports travel events, making sports one of the community’s largest market segment room night producers. The organization led efforts in 2016 to raise $1 million for capital improvements to transform Louisville’s BMX track to Olympic standards and served as a pro bono consultant during the creation of the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, an indoor track-and-field facility.

Under Schmitt’s leadership, the Louisville Sports Commission expanded its portfolio of owned and operated events. The commission owns the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football; the Howard Schnellenberger Award, given annually to the MVP on the winning team of the Louisville-Kentucky football game; the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame selection and induction ceremony; the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon presented by Jim Beam; the Louisville Pure Tap 5K; the Norton Sports Health 10K; the Louisville Indoor Games middle and high school track meet; the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic; and the Louisville Corporate Games presented by Humana, annually the largest field day for adults held in our community.

Prior to his tenure with the LSC, Schmitt was a member of the Churchill Downs senior management team for 20 years and served as sports information director at the University of Miami in the 1980s. As a volunteer, he served two terms as chairman of the board of the Louisville Urban League and the Muhammad Ali Center; was president of the Turf Publicists of America and the Holy Trinity Athletic Boosters and was on the boards of the Kentuckiana Minority Supplier Development Council, Greater Louisville Inc. and the Kentucky Science Center.