WCC Commissioner Gilleran to Retire

Per the WCC website:

http://wccsports.cstv.com/genrel/090407aaa.html

We are overdue for a change in Commissioner, if you ask me. Gilleran was successful in raising the profile of the conference, but seemed to stall about the time GU got hot in basketball and UP in soccer.

Who are candidates for a Div. I conference Commissioner?

I nominate Stonehouse.

I posted this over on Dons Central... mainly because a lot of people were cheering the announcement. I totally agree with Pilot Nut... he did a fine job raising the conference athletically and also in helping guide it out of the misery of the USF basketball scandal of the early 80's (remember... he came from the NCAA compliance office, and there's a reason why - they wanted to clean everything up).

Anyway, my recommendation of who I think they should look at it at the end.

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Well... here's my take on it. Gilleran isn't the most dynamic guy and the league probably played it way too safe (i.e. unoriginal) on a lot of things, but the WCC has been very stable and has grown into a pretty formidable mid-major conference.

Even if it's not a result of his leadership and rather the ambition of the ADs and presidents of the member schools, the WCC has established itself as bar none the best athletic conference of small, private schools and is on par in several sports with big mid major conferences like the WAC, Conference USA, etc.

The WCC is one of if not the top soccer conference in women's soccer and is a major conference in guy's soccer. The WCC consistently sends multiple teams to the tournament in volleyball and baseball. Pepperdine gets it done in tennis and golf, Portland gets it done in cross country.

Really the only sport the WCC is weak in or doesn't have a national power in is women's basketball. Think about that... can any other conference say that it has a big-time program in all but one of sports it sponsors?

Off the top of my head, I really can't think of one outside of the BCS. And looking over this list: http://www.kenpom.com/confrank.php?y=2007 Maybe the A-10? But nothing else.

Again, I'm not attributing this to Gilleran, but I don't think it's fair to him to just be jumping for joy that he's leaving. He's been a steady hand that has enabled (or maybe the better phrase is not messed up) the growth of the conference into what it is today. He deserves some respect for that, even if he hasn't been a dynamic leader by any stretch.

But I do definitely think the WCC is ready for someone who can take it the next step, who can think outside the box on things like expansion and sponsorships and TV contracts. I think the conference is in a good position to grow even more, especially in basketball.

If you ask me, the conference should really try and target a commissioner who knows college basketball in and out and knows how to help grow a conference... the assistant commish of the MVC maybe? Someone like that who is savvy with how to improve RPI's and scheduling and all of that. Basketball is the main money generator for the conference, and I could see a qualified person being attracted to the position not only because of an established successful program like Gonzaga (so you don't have to build from the ground up) but also the fact that several of the WCC basketball programs are dripping with potential... SMC, Santa Clara and San Diego especially.

So yeah... my vote would be for a basketball guy, and definitely NOT someone from a BCS or football conference. And preferably not from the inside either...