A state task force will spend the summer looking at Idaho’s competitive position in the changing world of college sports.

Gov. Brad Little announced the Working Group on College Athletics Monday.

“Idaho’s colleges and universities deliver real value to students, communities, our economy, and our athletics programs are a meaningful part of that,” Little said in a news release. “This working group will make sure we’re not sitting on the sidelines.”

The working group has eight members:

  • Cortney Liddiard, Idaho Falls businessman (chair).
  • Kurt Liebich, State Board of Education president.
  • Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian.
  • House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian.
  • Troy Bell, president and CEO of TanaBell Health Services, an Idaho State University Foundation board member and a former ISU football student-athlete.
  • Mark Miller, CEO of Miller Family Holdings and board chairman, Idaho First Bank.
  • Debbie Hetherington, University of Idaho Foundation board member.
  • Mike Tatko, regional business manager, Avista Utilities; president, Lewis-Clark State College Foundation Board.

The task force will hear from athletics departments from Idaho’s public universities “and identify state and local policy solutions and investment opportunities tailored to each institution’s needs,” according to the Little news release.

The group is expected to deliver findings and recommendations to Little by September.

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism, and extensive experience covering state politics and the Legislature. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television. He can be reached at krichert@idahoednews.org

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