Washington State University has parted ways with Athletic Director Anne McCoy, who officially took over the position in the spring of last year. Deputy Athletic Director and COO Jon Haarlow is expected to serve as the interim athletic director, according to sources.
During her brief tenure leading Cougar Athletics, McCoy made several key hires, including football coach Jimmy Rodgers, men’s basketball coach David Riley, swimming coach Russ Whitaker, and women’s golf coach Kevin Tucker. She also extended the contract of women’s basketball coach Kamie Ethridge, who remains one of the most successful coaches in program history.
McCoy’s departure comes as a surprise to many within the WSU community. A fixture in Pullman since 2001, she was widely respected and well-liked by staff, alumni, and supporters of Cougar Athletics.
While no official reason has been given for the decision, the move likely ties into the university’s ongoing challenges in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. Since taking office, President Elizabeth Cantwell has emphasized the growing importance of NIL funding to remain competitive in today’s college sports landscape. Cantwell has publicly stated that WSU needs to generate at least $20 million annually in NIL support to remain viable in the new Pac-Conference structure.
This decision signals that university leadership is seeking someone who can guide WSU into a more modern, NIL-driven era of collegiate athletics.