Washington State AD McCoy’s dismissal, Cantwell’s urgency and candidates to lead the Cougars

Washington State s decision to fire athletic director Anne McCoy came as a surprise here on the Hotline not the dismissal itself but rather that it took this long McCoy and new WSU president Elizabeth Cantwell were a bad match from the start The decision communicated Wednesday afternoon isn t necessarily bad for the Cougars or a repudiation of McCoy s tenure Yes fundraising was lagging but McCoy s legacy hinges on football coach Jimmy Rogers If he wins consistently then McCoy will have aced the majority crucial test of her -month tenure That reported Cantwell s decision reflects her aggressive relentless approach to athletics an approach that should benefit WSU during an era defined by revenue sharing NIL and the restructured conference landscape After all Cantwell was the driving force behind Utah State s move to the new Pac- during her tenure in Logan If she s all-in with football and men s basketball on the Palouse the Cougars will be better positioned for a prosperous future Where should WSU turn for McCoy s successor Presumably the Cougars will hire a search firm to assist with the process vet candidates offer advice and then slap the university with the bill Hopefully WSU won t take the search firm s advice as gospel Cantwell who was appointed last winter to succeed Kirk Schulz should reach out to former WSU athletic representatives for names of candidates who are best equipped to tackle the new terrain Three names come instantly to mind Former WSU athletic director Jim Sterk who s at this time in the same role at Western Washington In the past few days retired Northern Arizona athletic director Mike Marlow who graduated from WSU and worked for the Cougars as deputy athletic director under Bill Moos JD Wicker who s in charge of San Diego State s department but spent a decade in Pullman working for Sterk Pick their brains about the evolving landscape and how WSU can both leverage its strengths and hide its weaknesses Also ask them which current college administrators on the West Coast or elsewhere would have the best chance to elevate the Cougars We suspect Cantwell will seek counsel from her former athletic director at Utah State Diana Sabau who left Logan a sparse months ago to become Maryland s senior deputy athletic director Would Sabau who grew up on the East Coast and worked for the Big Ten be interested in the WSU vacancy We re skeptical Another suggestion Don t limit the search itself to candidates with connections to WSU The ability to energize donors should be paramount You don t need Cougar blood to achieve that Pat Chun arrived from Florida Atlantic in and raised gobs of money McCoy worked for WSU for a quarter century and struggled to generate NIL dollars It s easier to convince constituents to open their wallets when the university president is leading the charge and creating a permission structure to backing athletics throughout the university society With that commented the Hotline has a minimal names to offer for residents consumption Toledo athletic director Bryan Blair The former WSU deputy under Chun knows how to generate cash and is well-regarded across the industry His three years with the Rockets offer first-rate experience for life in the rebuilt Pac- which will be closer to the current MAC than to the former Pac- in a large number of respects But would Blair take the job Toledo is one of the top football programs in the MAC and has a stellar coach Jason Candle Related Articles College Football picks Alabama USC cover Oregon struggles Texas rises Pac- signs deal with USA Arrangement rounding out media rights package CFP rankings BYU s loss Utah s schedule create narrow playoff path CFP rankings Ohio St on top Notre Dame safe and ACC takes another hit Analysis Brett Yormark ESPN College GameDay and Big media strategy Purdue deputy athletic director Ken Halpin Limited possible candidates know the territory as well as Halpin who has a master s from Gonzaga a doctorate from WSU and worked for Eastern Washington What s more he has experience running an athletic department Winthrop According to Purdue Halpin oversees revenue generation programs and brand enhancement Sounds like a fit Eastern Michigan athletic director Scott Wetherbee Another option with employment experience out West San Diego State and Fresno State who s at this time leading a MAC department facing challenges comparable to those in Pullman Wetherbee has raised more than million for capital projects in Ypsilanti And he spent several years in the SEC at Mississippi State where he ran the external relations division Whether the Cougars target one of the aforementioned options or take an unconventional approach perhaps an executive in professional sports or the sports business industry they are playing from a position of strength in one respect And it s arguably the the majority major Their president wants to win Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup 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