Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Michael Haynes

American Football

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Russia

Beginning his career as a three-year All-WAC star at Arizona State, Michael Haynes was a first selection in the 1976 NFL Draft and went on to play 14 seasons as a cornerback and punt return specialist in the NFL. During his rookie year with the New England Patriots, he led the AFC with 608 yards on 45 punt returns, earning him his first of nine Pro Bowl invitations. In 1983, Haynes was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders, whom he stayed with for seven years before his retirement at the end of the 1989 season. Haynes was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 26, 1997. Since retiring, Haynes has become an advocate for increasing benefits for retired players, particularly those who retired prior to 1993.

Billy Elmore

American Football

Served as envoy

  • 2016  –  Russia

Billy Elmore began his coaching career in 1994 as the Offensive Line Coordinator for junior and senior high football in Barton, Arizona. From 1997 to 2002, Coach Elmore coached various positions at Greenwood, Arizona. Coach Elmore received his firth Head Coaching job in 2002 at Glen Rose in Malvern, Arizona. In this position, Coach Elmore was awarded Hootens 3A Coach of the Year following his 2007 football season. After leaving Glen Rose in 2008, Coach Elmore was the Head Coach and Athletics Director in Stuttgart, Arizona from 2010 to 2014. In 2012, the Ricebirds won the State Championship against Ozark, making Coach Elmore one of the three active coaches to have won a State Championship Title at two different schools. Since 2014, Coach Elmore has been one of the three head coaches for the Blue Devils of West Memphis. Certified “Heads-up”, a passion of Coach Elmore throughout his career has been coaching and promoting safer game play.

Nate Doss

Disc Golf

Served as envoy

  • 2015  –  Russia

Nate Doss first played disc golf when he was seven years old, and by the time he was eleven, he was hooked. In 1998, at the age of thirteen, Nate was invited to the Amateur World Championships and finished seventh in the Juniors under 16 division. Two years later, he turned pro. In 2008, he won the most prestigious disc golf tournament of the year, the United States Disc Golf Championship. Nate is currently the second ranked disc golfer in the world and has won three world championships (2005, 2007, 2011). With his win in 2011, Nate became only the second person with three world championships.

Michelle Kwan

Figure Skating

Served as envoy

  • 2007  –  China
  • 2007  –  Russia
  • 2008  –  Argentina
  • 2009  –  Ukraine
  • 2010  –  South Korea
  • 2011  –  Singapore

Michelle Kwan has had a distinguished career in public service, diplomacy, and sports. She is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, having won 43 championships, including five world championships, nine national titles, and two Olympic medals. She became the first Public Diplomacy Envoy in 2006 and for a decade, traveled extensively on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to engage youth around the world on social and educational issues. Kwan currently serves as the Treasurer and Board Member of Special Olympics International.

After she earned a B.A. from the University of Denver with a focus on international relations and a M.A. from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, she became a Senior Advisor at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In addition, she served as an Advisor to the Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State, where she assisted with the U.S.-China Women’s Leadership Exchange and Dialogue. She was also a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Council on Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports initiative at the U.S. Department of State.