Rick Hatcher, STS

President & CEO
Rick Hatcher is the President/CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism (formerly Treasure Coast Sports Commission) and is a recognized leader in the sports tourism industry with 26 years of experience. As the President/CEO of Play Treasure Coast, he oversees the marketing, promoting, and recruiting of sporting events that enhance the economic impact and growth for Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, which are located on the central east coast of Florida.


Rick was recently elected as President of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors Florida’s greatest sports figures and events, and leverages this collective celebrity to promote fitness awareness, education, and sports activities among our state’s youth and adults.
Prior to being named the President/CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, he was Director of Business Development for PSA Sports & Event Partners working with several USOC Governing Bodies for event housing and site selection for Regional, National, and International competitions.

Hatcher has also been Executive Director of Lexington Area Sports Authority, Executive Director of the Bluegrass State Games in Lexington, KY and Executive Director of the Tallahassee Sports Council in Tallahassee, FL

Rick has served as Chairman of the National Association of Sports Commission (NASC) as well as serving two terms on the NASC Board of Directors. He is a standing member of the NASC Leadership Council and has been chairman of the Sports ETA Hall of Fame Committee. As an experienced leader in the sports tourism industry, he has also served on the National Congress of States and the Florida Sports Foundation.

Prior to moving into the sports tourism industry, Rick was a pitching coach at the University of Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and the University of South Carolina. He played baseball at Florida State University (1979, 1980, 1981) followed by playing in the Atlanta Braves minor league system for three seasons. Rick played for Florida State University in the 1980 NCAA College Baseball World Series and returned to Omaha for the NCAA College Baseball World Series as an assistant coach for Georgia Tech in 1994 where they finished as runner-up for National Championship.