UMN Regent on Athlete Comp: 'Other Shoe to Drop with NCAA'

Michael Hsu is not your typical Regent. Since becoming the first male Asian elected in 2015 by the Minnesota Legislature to the Board of Regents, he has been at the center of multiple controversial issues at the University of Minnesota (see list below).

(The side image is Regent Hsu moving students into the dorms last fall. He is as grass roots as a Regent can be.)

So, it was no surprise to me when he became the first University Trustee nationally to come out in favor of collegiate athlete compensation in a story published by Deadspin.

The NCAA is meeting in Los Angeles this week and plans to tackle this highly debated topic. Last October, the NCAA announced plans to allow athletes to get paid for their names and images, but with no details on how and when.

Paula Norbom and I had lunch with Regent Hsu recently to discuss how the U of M can improve venture partnerships with the health technology community in Minnesota. While the conversation was thrilling, it eventually turned to the explosive topic of NCAA athlete compensation.

"I've been thinking about this for over 30 years, going back to when I was a student at the U," said Regent Hsu from our booth at Eli's East near campus. "It's just not fair. Why can a music major perform off campus for profit, but a collegiate athlete can't? The NCAA is a dinosaur and it needs to change."

As a "long-time-ago" Big Ten athlete, I back Regent Hsu's sentiment. It's time to change the dynamic. Collegiate athletes at all levels have a schedule most people can't fathom. At the highest levels, it becomes even more intense.

Why? Because profit is driving the equation for everyone on the team, except the athletes. While some receive scholarships, most NCAA athletes do not. Yet, they are all bound by the same shackles. Can you catch a sniff of human trafficking? Yeah...I went there.

I welcome your feedback on this discussion, and encourage you to reach out to Regent Hsu and other University administrators with your opinion...

Shoe in the Door: How Regent Hsu left his footprint at the U...

• Hsu assisted the Gopher Football team's return to action after the team initially decided to boycott the 2016 Holiday Bowl due to the University's irresponsible decision to suspend 10 players accused of sexual assault, later proven inaccurate. Hsu and Regent Darrin Rosha were called on by the players to broker the team's return after former University President Eric Kahler failed.
• Hsu and other regents thwarted a group of academics who submitted an inaccurate report accusing historic administrators of racism. The #fakenews catapulted the University into a social media storm. The group demanded the naming of certain keystone buildings on campus to change, potentially with significant costs attached. Hsu personally researched the groups claims through the university archives and found evidence contradictory to the report. The Board of Regents voted resoundingly to dismiss the report.
• Hsu has been a staunch opponent of raising tuition at the institution, as well as tax hikes. Instead, he advocates for smart spending across the university and an increase in revenue generated through community ventures.

About the Author:

Christiaan Engstrom is VP Corporate Development at Talencio, a Minneapolis-based executive search firm serving health technology companies. A father of three boys, he has led biotech, healthcare and manufacturing organizations. He earned his undergrad and MBA degrees from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. While at the University of Minnesota he was a student government leader, athlete and fraternity member. He earned his Associated Press credentials at the age of 16, reporting for the Daily Jefferson County Union in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Christiaan covers leadership topics related to his network, and is always looking for good stories. Contact him at (651) 329-7747 or christiaan.engstrom@gmail.com.