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A big Saturday for WSU

Posted by Vince Grippi

Feb. 13, 2010 8:48 a.m. • 8 comments

COUGARS

The guard will be changing in Pullman and I don’t mean guys playing inside in football or outside in basketball. We’re talking about athletic director Jim Sterk leaving. And, yes, he is taking the San Diego State job and no, he wasn’t forced out. We have more on that, and the basketball game today, on the link. Read on.

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• Washington State: Two years ago Bill Doba left Washington State, replaced by Paul Wulff. A year ago Tony Bennett left Washington State, replaced by Ken Bone. This week Jim Sterk will leave Washington State, replaced by … who knows right now. But one thing is certain. The first two changes won’t affect those who work around Bohler Gym nearly as much as this latest one. Folks, no matter who is hired to run the athletic complex and its $30 million budget, things will change in Pullman. How? That will depend on the person. But change is coming, and I’m sure it will be preceded by its kid brother, trepidation. Talking with people around the athletic department last night I can tell you Sterk was offered an extension on his contract after the San Diego State job came open (which is an interesting story in itself), but decided to move on. … His first big challenge: Finding a house in the Mission Valley area as nice as the one in Pullman, but still within his price range. That will be harder than raising money to remodel Martin Stadium in this economy. … Let’s move on, because we’ll cover the Sterk story more next week after we talk with him. … We had a basketball-related story in the paper today, looking at the process the Cougars are going through to get familiar with how Bone wants them to play. … Today’s opponent, Cal, has the opportunity to build some breathing room in the Pac-10 race with a win. … The Bears’ Jamal Boykin is becoming more of an inside presence. … We also had a paragraph last night on the blog about the new assistant football coach.

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• Around the Pac-10: How does UW play so well at home? Some coaches have a theory, and Pac-10 officials’ coordinator Bill McCabe gives it some credence. … Is Craig Robinson trying to leave OSU? He says no way and points out, with the Beavers’ record, who would want him? … Oregon State heads to Arizona trying to duplicate an earlier win in Corvallis. … Oregon may shake up the lineup once again. … ASU did that a while ago, and it lit a fire under point guard Derek Glasser. … When UCLA and USC meet Sunday, the Bruins will be embarking on a tough finishing stretch.

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• That’s all for now. We’ll be back before the game as usual. Until then …

Eight comments on this post so far. Add yours!

rufus on February 13 at 9:18 a.m.
the same issues of fund raising and performance on the field by teams / coaches will follow jim to SDSU ( both in difficult situations vs. other teams in thier conference - however SDSU is not in one of the big-time conferences - so less pressure to win and $$ ) hard to tell what went on- but the state of cal. is in worse shape than the state of wa. finances … most likely said time to move on … get a new challenge— good luck to jim.
he did bring the basketball, & ballball programs back and started the stadium revamp.
dhmeany on February 13 at 9:31 a.m.
I think Vince did a story a while back talking about how Sterk was right at the cieling of typifal tunures for AD’s ..so not a huge surprise.

Overall, nice job by Sterk considering the limited budget. While I don’t blame him for seeking a new challenge, this one is a bit strange - as Rufus mentioned, his budget problems will be just as bad down there, and he’s leaving the Pac-10 for a lessor conference.

But again, looks like an overall lifestyle change, maybe less pressure to win…and just a change.

If we can get him, I would go for Bill Moos - a cougar who lives in the area and seems to have one last run in him. Maybe Moos will be willing to give up some of the Oregon money owed to him to keep WSU on the right path (stadium reno, football upswing, maintain hoops, etc.). I may be wrong, but Moos is a big reason Oregon is so successful today - he managed to seize the opportunity when Nike money surfaces.

Different situation at WSU regarding donors, but I think Moos could really do a great job.

Go Cougs.
kaddy on February 13 at 10:14 a.m.
My vote is for Moos, too. I know he would give up $200K a year from UO, but he would make at least $300K working for WSU.
MikeSequim on February 13 at 10:53 a.m.
We don’t have the money for his buyout (Moos). As far SDS goes, they are much better off financially than WSU. Bigger base to draw from, nicer weather, lol, and solid program. I’m quite surprised by Mr. Sterk’s departure. Lots to read into this besides “it’s time for a change”. Lots of challenges ahead.
wackalacka on February 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Lessor conference… Really? as indicated by what?
The PAC10 has 1 school that has been dominant in the last 10 years. 1.

the MWC has crushed the PAC 10 in recent years in the 1 arena the matters.

Jim’s not taking a lesser job by going to SDSU. give me a break.
fitz on February 13 at 12:37 p.m.
Bill Moos. Let’s not make the same mistake that was made in 1994 when Rick Dickson was hired. I know the Oregon nikes have him blackmailed, but there should some way to get around that.
TommyCoug on February 13 at 12:54 p.m.
I saw this on another internet item this morning and wondered if there was anything on the S-R or Wazzu site or Cougfan. I am a Jim Sterk fan and will be very sorry to see him leave. I certainly hope he wasn’t forced out.

Jim Sterk has been good for WSU and one of our better AD’s in school history! Rich Dickson was bad and so was Jim Livengood. Jim Sterk made some good sport team hires and has dealt with difficulty several times. The head coaching staffs are “almost” as good as they have ever been. If Tony B. was still there then the question is definitely better. Bill Doba is the only bad mark on Jim’s record…I wonder who may have recommended him?

Bill Moos maybe…not sure who else…probably John Johnson will be considered as an “insider.” Times are tough…it will take a high energy individual to get us beyond the stadium deal and other money issues. I don’t know whether Bill M. would sign on for $300,000 or so for a tough job when he can ranch and have free time for $200,000 from Oregon (if indeed that’s the deal).

President Floyd has work to do now!
dhmeany on February 13 at 1:02 p.m.
Mountain West is a lessor conference. That’s why when the Pac-10 talks expansion it talks of abosrbing the Utah’s of the World. Not a slam, just a reality. Pac-10=BCS.
MWC =???

Put the best TCU, BYU and Utah teams in the pac and they are .500 at best. no question. Some decent teams in the MWC..but put them against the Pac-10 over a five-year period and there is not contest.

More money to draw from? Uhm, last I checked the state is bankrupt and SDSU’s football team has been cruddy for, oh, 10-15 years. Where’s the money for the program? Even mediocre WSU teams have beaten them…

If I am an AD, this is a step down, not a step up.