Canada Soccer Pressroom Logo Kevin Blue ushers in a new era of leadership at Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer announced today that Kevin Blue has been appointed as its new General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, bringing with him a combination of successful experience in commercial, sporting and CEO roles.
Blue joins Canada Soccer after serving as Chief Sport Officer at Golf Canada since 2021, where he oversaw a range of functions at NSO and helped raise more than $20 million in new financial support for national teams and grassroots programs.
Previously, Blue was a leading college sports executive in the United States, serving as Director of Athletics at the University of California, Davis. Blue was the youngest Division I administrative assistant at the time of his hiring — he was 33 years old — and led a successful cultural and financial transformation of the Division I school over the next five years. UC Davis saw record fundraising and total revenue along with the best competitive performances ever in multiple sports. Blue's tenure was highlighted by fundraising and construction of a new $52 million Sports Performance and Medical Center.
Kevin has also emerged as a widely read national thought leader on issues related to the financial structure of college sports in the United States. His article “Rising Expenditures in College Sports and the Nonprofit Paradox” She appeared as expert testimony at a U.S. Senate hearing on college sports funding.
Prior to joining UC Davis, Kevin worked in progressively more senior business roles and eventually led the business functions of Stanford University's $120 million athletics department. Revenues grew sharply during his seven years at Stanford and the Cardinal football team made three Rose Bowl appearances in four years. Stanford's soccer teams have produced world-class stars such as Kristin Press, Kelli O'Hara, and Jordan Morris.
“In Kevin, we have a transformational, results-oriented leader on our team to help guide us toward a more positive future for soccer in Canada and seize the incredible opportunities ahead.”
– Charmaine Crooks, President of the Canadian Football Association
Blue earned a doctorate in sports psychology from Michigan State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University, where he was captain of the golf team. Kevin was selected as one of the Canadians “Five to watch” In the sports business of 2023.
Kevin and his wife Betsy have four children – Jalen, Barron, Brooklyn and Maya – and live in Mississauga, Ontario. Blue will officially start in his new role on March 14, 2024.
Read Kevin Blue Message to Canada here.
