PULLMAN, Wash. – Among the countless unknowns that surround the conversation of Pac-12 conference realignment, WSU is entering its own new era within its leadership.
Former Athletic Director Pat Chun stepped down from the position at WSU and went to the Cougars’ cross-state rivals, University of Washington, this past spring.
This move kickstarted the search for a new leader of WSU Athletics and the university landed on Anne McCoy as the next one up.
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In an introductory press conference on Tuesday, McCoy said her top priority as Washington State’s first-ever female athletic director is to find a conference home for Cougar Athletics.
McCoy said the university is in daily contact with Oregon State and they’re keeping an eye on what other conferences are doing. She even said that rebuilding the Pac-12 is still a viable option and that conversations are being had behind the scenes about the future of WSU Athletics.
WSU and OSU have a two-year grace period to operate as the ‘Pac-2’ until they have to figure out a new conference home. Until then, McCoy said they are keeping all options on the table.
A partnership with the Mountain West is a viable option as WSU and OSU football programs entered a scheduling agreement with the conference for the next two years. Basketball and other sports are affiliate members of the West Coast Conference for the next two seasons.
“I think we’re all watching…even if you are not at one of these two schools, Washington State and Oregon State, you’re watching it real diligently because it’s unprecedented in college athletics what we’re going through. I think Washington State was one of the first schools to go through this…but by no means we’re the last.”
For McCoy, one of the biggest things with conference affiliation is to keep a ‘power conference’ status and she has until Summer 2026 to do so.
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