Like many popular public figures, college football and basketball coaches "can help build support" for presidential candidates, but "few are willing to make a public political stand because there's just too much to lose," according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. It is a "touchy situation for a college head coach," as not only do university policies "limit the political activity of employees, but even when high-profile college coaches are allowed to speak their minds about political issues, they risk significant blowback that could blister them and their employers." In the case of Washington State football coach Mike Leach, some WSU followers on social media "expressed disappointment about his support" for Donald Trump and "wondered if it would hurt recruiting." WSU professor Craig Hemmens also "criticized Leach for misusing his celebrity as the Cougars coach, writing in the Spokane newspaper that it was a 'sad day to be a Coug.'" Leach talked to WSU AD Bill Moos "about his desire to endorse Trump before he did so," and the school later "issued a statement that said it values having a diversity of opinion and supports the right of faculty and staff to 'express their views in their personal capacities.'" Meanwhile, the employment contract for Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin says that he "will not publicly endorse any political figure or cause." This has "been a university policy for A&M employees" since '08. Several former coaches have "entered the political fray recently," including Pro Football HOFer Mike Ditka and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, "both of whom endorsed Trump." But active coaches "are playing it safer." In March, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer "became one of the few active college coaches to endorse a presidential candidate when he vouched for Ohio Gov. John Kasich" (USA TODAY, 6/8).
