COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee announced today that Darryl Seibel has been named chief communications officer for the organization according to USOC CEO Lloyd Ward. Seibel will take over January 27 for the USOC's long-time spokesperson Mike Moran, who is retiring after nearly 25 years of service to the Olympic movement, but will continue to serve the USOC as a communications consultant. Moran first hired Seibel as his associate director at the USOC in 1999, before Seibel's move to the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.    Seibel has more than a decade of experience with the Olympic movement, contributing to U.S. Olympic Team successes in three Olympic Games and numerous national and international events, including Pan American Games, Olympic Festivals, and world and national championships. Along with his stint at the USOC, Seibel has also overseen the public relations activities of USA Hockey as its director (1992-1999) and assisted in the promotion of wrestling athletes as a member of USA Wrestling's public relations staff (1990-1992).    "The USOC is pleased to be able to bring on board an accomplished media and communications executive who has tremendous ability, background, and experience within the Olympic family," says Ward. "Darryl Seibel is respected by the media, our volunteers, staff, athletes and our national governing bodies and member organizations for his work. That adds up to a positive and effective force for the USOC in a crucial assignment. We conducted a wide-ranging national search which brought some tremendous individuals to our attention, but Darryl emerged as our choice, and we are very happy with the result."    "Nobody is more excited about this selection than I am," adds Moran. "Darryl worked with my staff and the media and everyone knows that he has tremendous skills and the ability to build positive, credible and lasting relationships with our key family and the media professionals that cover the Olympic movement. This is a significant addition to Lloyd Ward's professional team and continues our commitment to proactive and effective media relations and communications programs."    Prior to his departure from the USOC, Seibel was instrumental in the organization's marketing communications strategies ahead of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. In addition, Seibel worked closely with Moran and members of the USOC Executive Committee, Board of Directors and senior staff in developing and implementing strategic communications programs. As only the third public relations executive in the organization's history, Seibel will be responsible for all USOC communications strategies and messaging in conjunction with the chief executive officer.     "The stories of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes are among the most compelling in all of sports, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work in the Olympic Movement," Seibel says. "The vision that Lloyd Ward and the leadership of the USOC have established is dynamic and aggressive, and I look forward to joining this outstanding team. I'm deeply grateful to Mike Moran for his counsel, guidance and support during the past 12 years, and consider it an honor to follow in his footsteps."    Seibel returns to the USOC after working two-and-a-half years at the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, where he currently serves as the organization's interim president and chief executive officer. Prior to his appointment as interim CEO, Seibel was chief operating officer for the Sports Corp., developing and implementing proactive communications strategies that enhanced the profile and visibility of the organization.     As part of his COO duties, Seibel was also a key component in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Sports Corp., including the development and implementation of the company's strategic operating plan, fiscal oversight and hiring practices. He worked collaboratively with members of the organization's Board of Directors and Colorado Springs civic leaders and business partners in pursuing national and international sports events, which included the development of bid proposals and budgets.     Seibel and his wife Amie, who served as team leader for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, are longtime residents of Colorado Springs. Prior to his move to Colorado, he graduated from New Mexico State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree.