Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington State University has announced the hiring of Bill Moos as its new Athletics Director. Glenn Mosley reports.

Moos is no stranger to the Pullman campus. He's a recipient of the WSU Distinguished Alumnus Award and worked on campus for many years. He's also past athletic director at both the University of Montana and the University of Oregon.

Starting May 1st, he'll be running the athletics department at WSU:Moos: “At any given time you should give up what you are to become what you can be, and I know what Washington State can be, and I wouldn't be sitting here before you if I didn't believe it could happen.”Moos, who was raised on a wheat and cattle ranch in eastern Washington and graduated from WSU in 1973, will be paid $455,000 a year as athletic director, not including incentives.That figure has raised eyebrows on a campus rocked by budget cuts. But WSU president Elson Floyd defended the salary, saying the amount was reasonable, fair and appropriate given the financial climate in which the university competes.I'm Glenn Mosley reporting.