USA Wrestling’s Rich Bender Receives Stephen D. Ducoff Leadership Award

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender has received the Stephen D. Ducoff Leadership Award as presented by ACES, the Association of Chief Executives of Sport, at its recent annual meeting in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bender has been executive director of USA Wrestling since 2000. He is one of the longest serving chief executive officers of a national governing body and is the longest serving executive director in USA Wrestling history. From 2010–2016, Bender was chairman of U.S. Olympic Committee’s National Governing Body Council. He was also elected in 2019 to serve as a USOPC Board Member representing the NGB Council, a position he still holds.

“It was my honor to present the 2024 award to Rich Bender at the ACES Conference on behalf of the ACES Board and our members,” said Rick Mack, ACES chief executive officer. “His wide-ranging positive impact on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and the sport of wrestling cannot be overstated.”

Bender played a key role in developing USA Wrestling’s successful women’s wrestling program and also serves on the Technical Commission for United World Wrestling. During his tenure, USA Wrestling has enhanced its financial position and expanded support and opportunities for wrestlers in terms of increased pay, an athlete appearance program and Olympic and World medal performance bonuses.

The award is given to an ACES member who has made significant contributions to the organization and its members. Ducoff was the ACES co-founder who served as chief executive officer of ACES from 2007 until his passing in 2017.