Q: Coming out of high school, why did you choose to play at Oregon State?

A: Coming from Oregon, I always wanted to play at Oregon State. I originally committed to Boise State, but when Oregon State offered me I wanted to play at a higher level. I figured I could go backward if I wanted but not forward in terms of where I played.

Q: Were you and your teammates able to hold a job in college between all the time spent studying and playing?

A: At the time, it was illegal to have an outside job during the school year. That being said, even if it was legal, we wouldn’t have had time to hold a job.

Q: So how were you able to provide for yourself?

A: During the summer time commitments were far less and we were able to work at camps.

Q: Was getting paid something talked about among players?

A: We knew there were other schools cheating and paying their players. Our coaches were against cheating. At that time we could sell season tickets for face value and on the road we could sell tickets to “friends of the program.”

Q: Did the better players have different stances than say the bench players?

A: Yea, the better players knew guys on other teams that were getting paid and talked about it a little more. Still, at the time it wasn’t as big of an issue as it is now.

Q: How did you get into coaching?

A: Got hurt twice in college. The second injury ended my playing career. The coaches were nice enough to keep me on scholarship and let me help out.

Q: Why did you want to get into coaching?

A: Coaching was a way to stay involved in the game and I enjoyed working with my coaches so it was an easy transition.

Q: When you’re recruiting a kid, how do you sell him on the program?

A: The main thing is about building relationships and finding the right fit for student athletes. Where coaches get in trouble is when there isn’t a level of honesty and false promises are made.

Q: What are some of the things you tell a recruit?

A: I’m honest and open with them about playing time and shots. I tell them we’re here to assist academically but they are expected to go to class and put in a good effort. I try to undersell and under promise so that if times get tough they understand expectations.

Q: Do coaches make sure players aren’t violating NCAA rules?

A: A long time ago coaches were more involved with that. Today, there is a whole layer of NCAA compliance people at these schools.

Q: Is there anything you do now to help players understand what to do?

A: Everywhere players go, we make sure they know the dos and don’ts. We explain to them there is a “jock culture” and that everyone wants to be around them. They have to be careful with what they do because at the end of the day they represent the school.

Q: What’s your view on the current state of one year scholarships?

A: Players getting a three or four-year scholarship is better. Still not a perfect situation because when coaches leave a program, players can’t leave. I never cut a player based on ability.

Q: What’s your opinion on sitting out when transferring?

A: I think the rule forcing players to sit out a year is unfair. If both schools are okay with the player transferring, they shouldn’t have to sit out.

Q: You have the experience of being both a player and a coach. Did your views on paying college athletes change once you became a coach?

A: To be honest, not really. It wasn’t something I thought about too much as a player, and as a coach I don’t think they should be paid.

Q: Why not?

A: There are a couple reasons. First, the vast majority of college sports don’t make money. Second, if people are paid while at college, they will have to pay taxes on their scholarships. They’re also going to have to pay taxes on their free gear. There are a lot of issues the media doesn’t understand because they haven’t operated at this level. There are also Title IX implications. How can you only pay men but not women? The college debt these athletes don’t have because of scholarships is payment enough. Many students would love to switch positions with them.

Q: I agree it’s tricky for schools to directly pay student athletes. What do you think about an Olympics style process where athletes can get paid through sponsorships and advertising?

A: I think it’s complicated, but at the end of the day that’s unfair. You go to the University of Michigan with the largest living alumni base. Clearly players at schools like that will have more opportunity to get deals and sponsorships. It creates an unfair playing field. Also, paying players and allowing them to be marketing tools wasn’t why college athletics was created.

Q: Would the state of college athletics change if players were being paid?

A: I think there would actually be more corruption than there is now. You would also see athletic departments shift all of their focus to men’s basketball and football because those sports generate money. I think you also hurt smaller schools by doing that because they have no shot at paying players. Only about 20 percent of athletic departments are profitable.

Izak Sheinfield-Kandel