San Diego State University (SDSU) is under fire for its choice of Athletic Director.
John David “JD” Wicker, the new athletic director, spent four years at SDSU before heading to Georgia Tech in 2015.
While here, he was part of a contentious time for the university and its women’s basketball coach, Beth Burns.
Burns filed the civil suit after she said she was illegally fired from her job in 2013.
Burns said the firing was in retaliation for complaining about the University’s potential violations of Title IX, a mandate requiring male and female athletes be treated equally at federally funded institutions. The jury found in favor of Burns last month, awarding Burns $3.35 million.
Leaders in women’s sports say Wicker was one of those at the center of Burns’ firing.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, swimming gold medalist and CEO of Women Champion, says Wicker conducted a “sham investigation” into Burns that led to her firing.
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When asked about Wicker’s hiring she said she was disappointed.
”I was just disappointed and very heartbroken," Hogshead-Maker said. "The entire gender equity community felt that way…You would think that even with a $3.35 million judgment, that it would have hit home with the school more than it did. To hire someone from the exact same school!”
The University praised Wicker during a news conference to announce the new hire.
“He has the morals and ethics we were looking for,” said Softball Coach Kathy Van Wyk.
The University would not comment Tuesday on the criticism the choice received.
However, at the news conference announcing Wicker as the athletic director on Monday, Van Wyk said Wicker was the perfect person for the role.
“We really did our due diligence in looking over all the candidates out there and we had some good ones," she said. "That being the case, it became clear JD was the perfect person for the position.”
Hogshead-Makar said she thinks the choice sends a bad message to the coaches and community at SDSU.
“It sends out a bad message to women coaches everywhere," Hogshead-Makar said. "That even in a case where they can have the resources to prove they were being discriminated against, that the school doesn’t change their behavior. They don’t learn from their mistakes.”
