Why is suddenly pouring resources into women’s basketball?
One possible could be that athletic director Mike Bohn believes it is important to restore the tradition of what was once the nation’s top program in the early 1980’s.
But here is another way of looking at it: President Carol Folt, who probably feels like she can’t go a week without dealing with Title IX issues, knew it was a bad look for her to have a women’s basketball program with one NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.
Folt knows basketball is the highest-profile women’s sport. It might not make money but it is awkward for her to have a poorly-funded program like it was the past 15 years. She couldn’t explain to students why women’s basketball is treated like a poor stepchild.
That doesn’t match her rhetoric since becoming president.
So USC is breaking the bank to pay Lindsay Gottlieb.
It will mean losing more money. But the optics are worth it for Folt.
Pouring Money Into Women's Basketball Makes Sense For Carol Folt
Yep. Optics. More lost revenue in exchange for one brief press release. Short term smart.
#EverythingFoltDoesIsShortTermSmart
#ShortTermSolutionsAreHerSpecialty