Q&A with Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod: Why did CUSA add Missouri State?

Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod welcomed Missouri State as the league's 12th member during a press conference at Great Southern Bank Arena on Monday afternoon.

MacLeod spoke to a crowded PRIME Overtime Club about the changing college athletics landscape and what made Missouri State the right fit to join the league and become an FBS program.

"There's never been a more unsettling time, not to be a downer, but the reality of the landscape of college athletics and how things change rapidly," MacLeod said. "But with those challenges come opportunity. I think all of us, the enterprise as a whole, college athletics, each conference and each institution right now are just trying to find our path forward. And today, we get to celebrate Missouri State and Conference USA solving a little piece of that puzzle, an important piece, we're going to take our path together."

MacLeod, who has been CUSA's commissioner since 2015 and has been in the league office since 2006, complimented Missouri State and its athletics, facilities and budget. She said MSU offers a "comprehensive package" that will benefit CUSA and its member schools.

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Here's what MacLeod said after her introductory statement:

Why Missouri State over anyone else?

MacLeod: "We felt like they have a really comprehensive package and a really nice fit with our institutions. I think the plan they have moving forward is very attractive to us."

How long has this been in the works?

MacLeod: "The invitation was extended Thursday. We've been talking about it for a long time."

There were other options like Tarleton State and maybe others with more football success. What makes Missouri State right?

MacLeod: "We're excited about basketball and what it brings in basketball, both on the women's and men's side. I think Coach Cunningham will keep it rolling and Coach Martin will get it rolling again. That's important to us.

"How they treat their student-athletes and the way they value the student-athlete experience. Not all schools do cost of attendance and Alston money and all that. That's really important to us moving forward."

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It looks like you've done work to improve basketball when it's been since 2012 that you've had two bids to the NCAA Tournament.

MacLeod: "I was at the University of Tulsa for a short time before it left the Missouri Valley Conference and I've been here for basketball games. That was a while ago, but I've seen what they can do here in basketball. The football is going to come and they have a good plan for it.

"All of our schools have work to do in certain areas and they're not all the same. Everybody has different strengths. When we looked at the overall package, how it fits in, and geography... well, geography's gone out the window a little bit. But this fits in the middle of where we are with our schools and it made it the right choice."

How do you see this league working with the geography and the uptick in expenses it's going to cost at Missouri State in particular?

MacLeod: "I think with 12 teams, we can go travel partners across most sports. Football's a different animal.

"But when you start talking football, you look at our league, Jacksonville State in year one got eligible for a bowl. They technically weren't eligible but there were spots and got to go win a bowl game in year one. Sam Houston didn't but there are different journeys along the way.

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"Was it a lot of work to get to this point? Yeah. But now we have a lot more work to do. The conversations we've had with incoming MSU president Dr. (Biff) Williams have been fantastic and it's been great with president (Clif) Smart and Moats. (Williams) will be the leader when our membership happens and that's been really important."

Is Conference USA going to stick with 12 schools?

MacLeod: "I think 12's a really good number but we'll continue to be thoughtful. I think we wanted to get to this spot and really work to improve and see what happens with college athletics in general."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State to Conference USA: Commissioner Judy MacLeod Q&A