Moos hits all the right notes

PULLMAN -- Bill Moos, the former WSU football star and associate and assistant athletic director, was officially introduced as Washington State’s new athletic director at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. And Moos flashed his trademark sense of humor, leadership skills and unabashed love for his alma mater.

Moos may need to wait as late as May 1 to begin work full-time due to personal obligations. Of course, that’s coming from a man who has already spent countless hours visiting with people with Cougar ties the past two weeks; who spent more than an hour giving interviews at the press conference; and who will travel to Seattle on Thursday for more face-to-face time with the media.

A full report is coming later today on Cougfan, but here are some of the key points addressed by Moos and/or school president Elson Floyd at the press conference:

-- Moos will address all athletic facility needs before deciding if his first priority will be the proposed Phase III expansion of the Martin Stadium football facility with premium seats.

-- Moos, who was part of the committee that recommended Paul Wulff as WSU’s football coach in December 2007, said he is impressed with recruiting under Wulff and considers the coach “very capable.”

-- Moos said predecessor Jim Sterk did “a wonderful job,” but he wants to “change the culture” of Cougar athletics by focusing on winning and championships rather than being viewed as underdogs.

-- Moos has tentatively agreed to a seven-year contract that will pay him a guaranteed $455,000 a year, plus bonuses and incentives. The guaranteed portion of the salary is third highest in the Pac-10 among AD's, said Floyd.

-- Moos said no promises have been made by Oregon officials, but negotiations continue with the Ducks on a settlement of the 10-year, $2 million “non-compete” deal designed to block him from taking an AD job at a Bowl Championship Series school west of the Mississippi.

-- Moos said “there are a lot of things that are not broken” in the athletic department, but he will form an executive committee to help design a “blueprint” for future success.