John David Wicker talks to alma mater but will stay as San Diego State’s AD

Mississippi State already has one person from San Diego State in a key athletic department position, with the recent promotion of former SDSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head football coach following the death of Mike Leach.

It won’t get another.

Athletic Director John David Wicker said he had a “conversation” with Mississippi State, his alma mater, about its vacant AD position but opted to stay at SDSU despite the possibility of tripling his salary. Instead, he is negotiating a new contract at SDSU — his current one worth about $400,00 per year expires in June — while Mississippi State reportedly will hire Oklahoma Deputy AD Zac Selmon.

“I am proud of everything we have accomplished at San Diego State and am excited to continue that work,” Wicker told the Union-Tribune via text. “We have a lot of opportunities directly in front of us, and I appreciate the support of President (Adela) de la Torre as we work to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Discussions on a new contract began before Auburn poached John Cohen from fellow SEC member Mississippi State in late October, just days before the two schools played in football. Wicker, given his ties to the school and state, was immediately listed as a leading candidate for a job that paid Cohen $1.1 million per year.

“I had a conversation with my alma mater knowing I have a phenomenal job currently,” Wicker said. “I would not have had the conversation if it wasn’t my alma mater. I’m excited to get a new contact completed and keep growing San Diego State athletics and the institution.”

It is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks.

“JD is known nationally for his ability to build and sustain success,” SDSU President Adela de la Torre said in a statement, “and I could not be more proud of what we have already achieved together at SDSU. It is no surprise he is in high demand, especially for the nation’s top athletic programs. But the opportunity to push collegiate athletics forward is here at SDSU.

“The investment is here, and the time is right. I am committed to that future together with JD.”

Several reports say the 37-year-old Selmon, who played tight end at Wake Forest and has been at Oklahoma since 2015, would be in Starkville, Miss., on Thursday to finalize the hire. He would become Mississippi State’s first Black athletic director.

Wicker, 53, could soon be a power conference AD himself, if the Pac-12 invites SDSU to replace UCLA and USC when they join the Big Ten in 2024-25. The Pac-12 first must announce a new media rights contract before its presidents and chancellors will consider expansion.

SDSU would need to inform the Mountain West by June if it hopes to leave by 2024-25 without incurring any multimillion-dollar departure penalties.

Wicker first came to SDSU in 2011 as deputy AD under Jim Sterk, whom he had worked with at Washington State. He left in 2015 for the No. 2 job at Georgia Tech but was back 15 months later when Sterk was hired by Missouri.

Wicker was instrumental in the university acquiring the Mission Valley land that used to house Qualcomm (and later SDCCU) Stadium, then building $310 million Snapdragon Stadium that helped position SDSU as a prime expansion candidate for the Pac-12 or Big 12. During his time as deputy AD, he was the de facto project manager for the JAM Center, the practice facility used by the No. 23-ranked men’s basketball program.