Washington St. fires athletic director McCoy

Less than 18 months into her tenure, athletic director Anne McCoy was fired by Washington State on Wednesday.

McCoy, who has worked at Washington State since 2001, served in the AD role on an interim basis until she was promoted in spring 2024 by former president Kirk Schulz, who retired earlier this year and was replaced by Elizabeth Cantwell.

“Anne has provided steady leadership through one of the most complex and pivotal periods in the history of Cougar Athletics,” Cantwell said in a statement. “She built a strong foundation for the program’s future grounded in integrity, academic success, and care for our student-athletes. We are deeply grateful for Anne’s decades of service and her unwavering commitment to Washington State University.”

Jon Haarlow, the chief operating officer for WSU athletics, has been named interim AD until a replacement for McCoy is found.

The reason for McCoy dismissal wasn’t immediately clear, but the move was not for cause, sources told ESPN.

McCoy helped guide WSU through a turbulent period as the school weathered the collapse of the Pac-12 and its rebuild ahead of the 2026 season. She was responsible for hiring football coach Jimmy Rogers, who is in his first season, and men’s basketball coach David Riley, who has just started his second season.