for football, basketball, and other sports, we need BYU to continue to be a place where the head coaches want to remain.

Historically, BYU has relied exclusively upon church membership, but that was very and is very limiting.

Make compensation, facilities and support first rate, with high class assistant coaches, and sometimes consider the possibility of nonLDS being head coaches in unique circumstances, and BYU can continue to be an elite athletic institution. (Same should go for the colleges at BYU).

The key is to stop being cheap and to rely upon religious loyalty. Pay market rates and BYU has enough successful alumni to continue being competitive at all levels.

As KY's recruiting strategy shows, there are enough elite athletes who will select BYU precisely because of the lack of distractions as they prepare to go pro. Yet, it is and was unrealistic to attract great assistant coaches and now players without paying market rates.

Conference affiliation is also very significant as it raises BYU's profile and other schools can see the value add of our fanbase. BYU's evolution is not complete but there is enough for BYU to become an elite athletic institution.

I also believe this is possible for the academic institution if pay can be increased. There are only a few fields where academic independence will be restricted, so there are plenty of fields where those issues don't exist.