City hires former Major League Soccer commissioner to oversee homeless initiatives

Sarasota city commissioners in April approved an 8-point plan for battling chronic homelessness. Now the city has hired a director to oversee the efforts.

“I’m not a social worker and I’m not looking for a career,” said newly hired Director of Special Initiatives on Chronic Homelessness Doug Logan in a news release. “Quite honestly, I hope I work myself out of a job.”

Logan served as the first commissioner of Major League Soccer in the U.S., and also helped launch the first Arena Football game as building manager of the Rockford MetroCentre, which is now known as the BMO Harris Bank Center. As CEO of USA Track and Field, Logan previously worked with former Sarasota City Manager Mike McNees.

Logan has been a Sarasota County resident since 1987.

"What stands out with Doug Logan is his respected leadership and experience." said City Manager Tom Barwin in the release. "He is a strategic thinker, capable of organizing major initiatives."