Pat Kelleher has been a champion for advancement on many fronts during his time as executive director of USA Hockey, highlighted by concentrated efforts on growth, diversity and inclusion, and the overall safety of the game. Today, USA Hockey includes more than one million players, coaches, officials and volunteers; is a global leader in youth sports in numerous areas, including player development through its American Development Model; and is a gold-medal contender in all international competition.

Named executive director of USA Hockey and The USA Hockey Foundation on June 10, 2017, Kelleher is acknowledged among the top 20 individuals on The Hockey News list of the Top 100 People of Power and Influence in the sport and is well-connected through his varied involvement, including serving as chair of the National Governing Bodies Council, which comprises the leadership of the 51 NGBs in the Olympic/Paralympic Movement; as a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation Marketing Committee; and previously as co-chair of the NHL’s Youth Hockey Inclusion Committee.

Prior to his current role, the Belmont, Mass., native served as assistant executive director of USA Hockey, where in 2008 he helped start a new department focused on increasing participation across the country, particularly at the entry level. Kelleher established and led implementation of several new initiatives that resulted in increased retention and also advanced the number of players at the 8U level by over 20% in the nine seasons.

In 2011, he took on added responsibilities overseeing The USA Hockey Foundation and guided efforts that resulted in donations to the Foundation’s Circle of Champions increasing five-fold over a five-year span. He also established a Trustee program to more actively engage high net-worth donors in supporting USA Hockey’s mission, in addition to creating the “It Starts With A Stick” campaign to provide 12,000 hockey sticks to new participants each year.

Prior to joining USA Hockey, Kelleher was recruited to help launch what is today called U.S. Ice Rink Association in April 2000 and served as its chief operating officer through June 2008. The U.S. Ice Rink Association is a non-profit membership organization focused on advancing the ice rink industry through world-class education and training programs.

Kelleher is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee and also serves on the board of directors for the Hockey Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Endowment and the Colorado Springs World Arena.

A 1992 graduate of Brown University, Kelleher is the oldest of Dan and Maura Kelleher’s five sons, all who played college hockey. His late father coached 8U hockey in Belmont, Mass., for 40 years and in 2001 received the prestigious Wm. Thayer Tutt Award, USA Hockey’s highest volunteer honor.

Kelleher and his wife Allyson, have two daughters, Abbey and Darby, and a son, Matty.