Grip on Sports: Patrick Chun takes over a tough job in Pullman

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There is going to be new leadership in Pullman, that’s for sure. What’s not sure is exactly what that means. Read on.

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• Washington State told the world yesterday what the world, especially the world of social media, already knew. Patrick Chun is the Cougars new athletic director.

It was an announcement postponed by tragedy, but one we knew was coming ever since the news leaked Chun, currently at Florida Atlantic University, was president Kirk Schulz’ choice.

The proof? Pictures of Chun and Schulz together at a WSU women’s game over the weekend, shared with the world on social media by Schulz’ wife, Noel.

Talk about scooping yourself.

Chun will be officially introduced this morning at a press conference in Pullman and if it is anything like recent press events, it will be more of a celebration than media frenzy.

Washington State’s newest athletic director – the Cougars are on their fifth in the past 20 years, not counting interims – faces a financial challenge.

His reputation as a fundraiser will be tested trying to eliminate a deficit that’s still around $8 million yearly. There is also the millstone of previous loans from the school administration that total more than $50 million – and Schulz has made it clear the loans are going to be forgiven.

It would be a challenge for anyone, but might be even more of one for someone without Washington State connections. The Cougar family is tight-knit and it takes a while to become a part of it. Especially when you are asking your family members to part with their hard-earned cash.

If Washington State really wants to balance the athletic budget by 2021, as Schulz has announced, then the fundraising will have to go to light speed faster than the Millennium Falcon. And there certainly will have to be some cuts.

All this has to be done while Chun is familiarizing himself with Washington State. His predecessor, Bill Moos, didn’t have that problem. He also had a president with an open checkbook, as Elson Floyd wanted to pull WSU into the 21st Century no matter the cost. It cost a lot.

But those days passed long ago. Moos saw the future, found a safe landing spot in Nebraska and bid adieu to his alma mater.

The new watch-phrase in Bohler is fiscal responsibility. The largesse that came with new Pac-12 broadcast contracts and revenue sharing has been invested in Martin Stadium, the football operations building and other facilities. Though giving has increased, it will have to increase even more to make ends meet.

So welcome to Pullman Patrick Chun. And good luck.

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WSU: Otherwise, yesterday was quiet in Pullman, though Theo Lawson did share his top 25 basketball votes with us. … Stefanie Loh in the Times covered the official announcement of Chun’s hiring as well. … The Cougars lost a big offensive lineman commit last night. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, poll votes are all the rage. … Motivational tricks aren’t tricks if they work. … Oregon’s basketball future looks bright. … So does UCLA’s. … Right now, Colorado and Arizona seem to be a bit upset with each other. … Utah is headed to the desert. … Next season’s football schedules are up and down for Pac-12 schools. … At least the right emotions came at some point.

Gonzaga: The Zags fell two spots in the most recent poll, but stayed ahead of Saint Mary’s, who jumped from out to in. Jim Meehan has the story. … Former Gonzaga director of operations Jerry Krause is still staying busy with basketball. Whitney Ogden’s story tells us how.

Idaho: The Vandals’ Brayon Blake is the Big Sky Conference player of the week.

Seahawks: Another Hawk assistant has left. … Michael Bennett is going to the Pro Bowl but Jimmy Graham isn’t.

Sounders: Preseason camp is open and Seattle looks pretty much like last year’s squad.

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• There is one sure fire way to make ends meet in college athletics these days: land a whale. Find a huge donor (Oregon’s Phil Knight, Oklahoma State’s T. Boone Pickens, UCLA’s Casey Wasserman, Maryland’s Kevin Plank) that not only helps you make ends today meet but also invests in future success. Anybody out there want to be that guy for Washington State? You might want to be in Pullman this morning at Chun’s introductory press conference. I’m sure you would be welcomed. Until later …