The funds would not be distributed evenly, not an issue. BYU would have had issues with Title IX, the % of male to female needs to be the same for % for sports. Having a D1 lacrosse team would mean that BYU’s ratios would be out of whack and Holmoe said to make things work BYU would not fund another woman’s sport so he was going to pass on the $$$ or the donor could donate to fund a woman’s sport too.

His son is a legit lacrosse player and had east coast D1 offers pre-mission. He is a great kid and his father wanted to help him and a Utah based school. BYU’s program was doing better but there were also other question marks about BYU. The donor is a Utah man, so got involved made a donation with commitment to fund yearly for a long period and helped bring in some added donors (he is the bulk of the $$$). Since then he helped bring in a top tier coaching staff who had done well to date and recruiting has gone well.

Not sure where you got the $16mm and won’t comment on the details but the number is off. The Donor is very generous and was willing to help BYU but Holmoe passed as he did not want to ruffle feathers or put in work to get another woman’s sport going. It is a big loss and dumb decision in my opinion, but I am sure Holmoe has his views too.

To bring it full circle the donor is the uncle to a BYU QB named Zach Wilson. You may have heard of him?