Hickey hits ground running at EWU

New Eastern Washington University interim athletics director Lynn Hickey came prepared for her first meeting with the media in her second day on the job, Feb. 13. She had plenty of answers for all the questions, and then some.

While not dressed in knock-your-eyes out Eagle red, Hickey has that in the works.

Coming from the generally warmer parts of Texas in San Antonio, and in likely anticipation of more winter weather ahead, "I actually ordered a red parka online," Hickey said, but it still has not arrived.

Hickey replaces Bill Chaves, who has taken over the AD job at the University of North Dakota. She served for 18 years as associate vice president and director of athletics at the University of Texas, San Antonio before leaving in 2017.

"It's a great opportunity for me to help a program," Hickey said during a press conference at EWU's Red Reese Room.

She began her new duties on Feb. 12 and has been on the run ever since. Hickey's first day on campus was comprised of meetings from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both on the athletic and academic side.

And the next was no different. "Today has been the same thing, we started at 8 and have not had a break yet," Hickey said. Lunch was simple. "I stopped at the little store in the middle of campus and got a Power Bar."

Brought in to bridge the gap between Chaves and a successor, Hickey did not rule out applying for the position that is currently in the hands of a search committee who hopes to have a permanent replacement by as early as May.

While parachuting into a new job right in the middle of an athletic year might not be on most people's wish list, Hickey views it differently having come from warmer climates where revenue generating sports take place year around.

"I'm coming from a part of the country where the spring is really heavy with baseball and softball," Hickey said. "Baseball is huge in our part of the country."

Eastern has no revenue-generating sports in the spring so it will give her time to work on other projects.

One of those priorities is the still open Sept. 1 date on the football schedule. Hickey has already heard about the urgency fans are feeling to have an answer.

"We need to solve that very, very quickly," she said. "There are a lot of things pending on the schedule from ticket sales to the promotion of the season." That will be a priority Hickey wants to have settled ASAP.

While Eastern is looking at all options - even a big payday game against a Football Bowl Subdivision school to help shave off a department deficit - Hickey said having a home game is also a priority.

"I think it's very important for the program not to go on the road again," Hickey said. But that all depends on finding a team willing to come to Cheney, and the financial piece that surrounds such a move. "There's going to have to be a guarantee to make that happen," she said.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.