With Anne McCoy being fired after 17 months as AD and 25 years with the program, It is clear President Betsy Cantwell wants a fundraiser and someone who is going to improve the WSU brand and marketability. WSU has missed the eight-ball on many things in athletics that shows they are out of touch. If I was named the Athletic Director tomorrow the four things I would do immediately are:

1 – Invest in home game attendance

WSU attendance for football is up from 2024 but not where it should be. I would incentivize people to come. $200 off tuition for every game a student is at the game and stays the entire time; I would use app tracking to make sure they remain at Martin Stadium. I would also add an extra $100 off tuition for every family member brought to games. This incentive could give students upwards of $1,500 if they came to every game with a few family/friends. Bringing people in is more important than losing $30-50 thousand in tuition. 

2 – Fundraise, fundraise… and fundraise

I would invest in fundraisers in cities like Spokane and the Tri-Cities area. While Cougs are everywhere, in those two areas they are prevalent and close. It is important to hold events and have meet and greets with alumni. Make the players and coaches go have events there and practices that are FREE to the public. Make people believe. I would also make a WSU vs EWU game yearly, the match will be sold out whether in Pullman or Cheney. 

3 – Alumni appreciation 

Give Klay Thompson a statue outside Beasley and re-name the arena “Thompson Arena”. Klay is the most known WSU athlete of all time, he has also signed multiple contracts for $100 million. It is important not to beg him to donate but doing these two moves and showing gratitude will make Thompson reminisce. He has the money and has to have a reason to donate. I would also ask Sean Tresvant, CEO of Taco Bell and WSU alum, to make a NIL deal with Football and Basketball. NIL is the new way to win in Collegiate athletics, and Taco Bell is the face of college fast food. 

4 – Big name opponents

With the Pac-12 being dismantled and the new Pac-12 being mediocre, it’s important to bring in big names. When WSU played USC, UCLA, U of O and even Stanford, the stadium was packed because of name value. WSU needs to bring in big name opponents who get butts in seats. This is not the 2000s anymore, name value means something. 

WSU athletics is in a tough spot but there is a pathway and I believe this is the way. The days of CFP in football are over, but being a top-25 ranked team will help make WSU relevant again. If interim AD Jon Haarlow wants to stay as AD, he should present these ideas to President Cantwell. The Cougar brand is dying and needs to be given a chance to survive.