The Columbus Crew are set to undergo another front office change in the coming weeks.
The club announced Monday that it will part ways with president Mark McCullers in April. A longtime club executive with 15 years of experience with the Black-and-Gold, McCullers is resigning his role as president of the Columbus Crew, Crew Stadium and the Crew Soccer Foundation. His final day with the club is April 30, 2014, as he assists with this organizational transition.
“Mark and I had the chance to speak this past weekend, and based upon that conversation, I told him that we would not be extending his contract with the Crew,” Crew chairman and investor-operator Anthony Precourt said in a statement. “When we purchased the Crew, we said that we would evaluate the club in a thoughtful and thorough manner.
"After nearly eight months at the helm of the club, Mark and I both agreed that it would make sense for the organization to go in a different direction, so he offered me his resignation, which I accepted.”
McCulles' tenure at the club began in December 1998. He arrived in Columbus to oversee the development of Crew Stadium, the first topflight stadium built specifically for soccer in the US. He was promoted to executive vice president of the club in January 2001 before becoming the Crew’s third general manager in club history. He held that position for nine seasons, beginning on an interim basis on July 9, 2004, before earning the position outright on January 19, 2005.
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McCullers added the title of president in 2007, and saw the club earn three MLS Supporters’ Shields and the 2008 MLS Cup during his tenure.
“I want to thank Anthony and Precourt Sports Ventures for giving me the opportunity to continue to run this team after the purchase from Hunt Sports Group,” McCullers said in a statement. “I am proud of the legacy moments in club history that I have been part of over the past 15 years.
"I most cherish the personal and professional relationships that I have developed in this community and it has been my honor to represent this club. I wish Anthony, our front office and the team nothing but success as they work to bring another MLS Cup back to Columbus.”
On the field, the Crew are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in club history under new head coach Gregg Berhalter.
