USA Curling Elects Bret Jackson and Colin Hufman as New Chair and Vice Chair

The USA Curling Board has elected Bret Jackson as chair and Colin Hufman as vice chair, following several resignations at the organization.

Former USA Curling Board Chair Lynn LaRocca has resigned, along with independent directors Shane Coppola and Hawley McLean.

Jackson, who was elected to the board on October 2022, has served in various capacities at the national, regional and local level of the sport. He is the past president of the Detroit Curling Club and serves on the USA Curling Board as a representative from the Great Lakes and Midwest Curling Associations.

“Athletes, whether they are recreational or high performance, are who this organization needs to be dedicated to serving,” Jackson said. “I am volunteering to help be part of the change, and I hope many of my fellow grassroots curlers join me. Together we can show how special this sport and its people are.”

Hufman is an Olympian and part of Team Shuster. A member of the USA Curling Athletes’ Advisory Council since 2017 and a director since 2020, Hufman was also elected in 2020 by his athlete peers to serve as curling’s representative on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council.

“When I think of home, I think of being in the Fairbanks Curling Club where my mom, dad and sister still curl,” said Hufman. “I’ve seen the ups and downs of competitive and recreational curling in this country over the years, largely influenced by the Olympic and Paralympic movements. I’m invested in this community and am committed to doing the work along with an exciting new leadership team and many other volunteers across the United States curling landscape.”

The moves come a week after CEO Jeff Plush resigned following a report about his former employment at the National Women’s Soccer League that concluded he did not do enough to protect players in the league who had come forward with allegations of sexual assault.

“I know Bret and Colin from spirited competition on the ice and have always respected their commitment to not only playing our sport but taking on the responsibility to help make it better,” said USA Curling Interim CEO Dean Gemmell. “All of us at USA Curling pledge to listen, learn, and work with all our members to move the sport forward.”