Thoerner appointed USA Racquetball Executive Director

USA Racquetball has a appointed Jason Thoerner as their new Executive Director. Thoerner replaces Steve Czarnecki, who resigned in August. Thoerner was serving on the USA Racquetball board in the role of President prior to this hiring, which will be effective November 1. Thoerner joined the USAR board in 2012.

Thoerner’s appointment came the day before his 43rd birthday.

Thoerner has spent much of his life involved in racquetball, beginning at 8 years old in Crystal River, Florida. He developed into an elite player reaching a career high ranking of 8th on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and representing the USA four times. Twice Thoerner won gold for the USA, including an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Doubles World Championship in 2008 with Mitch Williams. He also won Men’s Doubles at the 2005 Pan American Championships with Mike Guidry, and was silver medalist in Men’s Singles at the 2002 World Championships, losing to Jack Huczek in the final.

Thoerner also served as the IRT chief referee for several years. After retiring from the IRT, he worked for HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports for seven years prior to this appointment.

It’s unusual for an organization’s Board President to become the organization’s chief staff member, and that was acknowledged in the USAR press release, which cited “Thoerner’s leadership” and a demonstration of that he was capable of handling the USAR’s strategic initiatives and finances as some of the reasons for moving him from President to Executive Director.

Follow the bouncing ball….