Cash windfall coming to Gonzaga University, WSU and EWU athletic departments

Gonzaga University, Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are among colleges across the country set to get a cash windfall from the National Collegiate Athletic Association next month.

The money, however, isn’t without strings. It can only be used “for the direct benefit of the student athlete and their academic success, life skills, career success, health and safety and student-athlete focused diversity and inclusion initiatives,” according to a Q&A on the NCAA website.

That list includes things like tutoring, educational materials, financial literacy programs, mental health programs, portable AED units and concussion education. The cash cannot be used for coaches’ salaries or anything designed to improve athletic performance.

The amount given to each school is based on the number of athletic scholarships granted in the 2013-14 school year. A total of $200 million coming from the liquidation of a quasi-endowment will go to Division I schools in a one-time payment in April.

Gonzaga University, the only local school without a football team, will get the lowest regional disbursement of $287,156.

Eastern Washington University, which gave out 145.51 athletic scholarships that year compared to Gonzaga’s 87.25, will get $478,901 from the NCAA.

Washington State University will receive $756,381. That’s less than the $846,856 slotted for the University of Washington.

Washington State University associate athletic director of athletic communications Bill Stevens said WSU hopes to use the money to help fund the school’s student athlete academic center.

“I think we’re renovating some space to enlarge it,” Stevens said.

Gonzaga University did not identify any specific plans for the incoming cash when contacted Friday. “Similar to other NCAA distributions, the funds will directly benefit Gonzaga student-athletes through academic support, life skills and career programming, and health and well-being initiatives,” said assistant athletic director/communications Todd Zeidler.

One of the conferences getting the most money is the Big Ten, with six schools – Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin – all receiving more than $1 million.

Each university will have to submit its plan for the money to the NCAA for approval before anything can be spent. The NCAA will conduct random audits to make sure schools followed their approved plans.