• Loading stock data...
Monday, November 25, 2024

How the Horizon League Is Approaching NIL

  • Commissioner Julie Roe Lach detailed the Horizon League’s NIL plans in an interview with FOS.
  • It doesn’t have the riches of FBS conferences, but that hasn’t stopped it from developing a robust NIL strategy.
Photo: Sam Greene, Cincinnati Enquirer/Design: Alex Brooks

In the NIL era, conference offices have begun to explore their specific role in helping athletes profit. Some are leaving almost everything, from education to partnerships, up to their schools. Others are taking a more hands-on approach.

Few plans are as detailed as the one in the Horizon League.

It doesn’t have the riches of FBS conferences, and it isn’t even the wealthiest among non-FBS Division I conferences.

But the Horizon League is proving that supporting athletes’ financial endeavors doesn’t require millions — and that a conference can guide schools through a complicated process while still giving them the space to develop their own plans.

“We’ve taken our time,” Commissioner Julie Roe Lach told FOS. “Last summer and fall, it wasn’t exactly clear from a league standpoint what role would be helpful and effective. It’s started to really crystallize.”

A ‘Three-Phase’ Approach

The Horizon League began building a strategy long before July 1, monitoring laws in the states in which the conference’s schools reside, as well as the Alston decision, Roe Lach said.

Once the NCAA passed its rule, the Horizon League “embarked on that phase-one part — which was just ensuring our student-athletes were educated,” Roe Lach said. The conference took an “institutional-led effort with our league office supporting them.”

The second phase centers around athletes signing NIL deals. Roe Lach recognized schools can help by giving athletes tools to build strong personal brands, even if they can’t procure deals themselves. To do this, the conference was planning on signing one of two vendors. 

When Roe Lach spoke with FOS in November, the Horizon League was in the midst of this step.

“We did not rush to sign with someone,” Roe Lach said. “That was happening in a lot of places. But I think slow and steady has been our approach.”

The final prong in the strategy is teaching athletes financial literacy — from savings to tax implications. 

A Recruiting Advantage?

NIL is now an inextricable part of recruiting — and the Horizon League has its pitch ready.

When Roe Lach visited most of the conference’s schools, basketball coaches told her that a high number of recruits have begun to ask about NIL.

Roe Lach wants recruits to understand three things. 

First, the conference has developed the “tools” for athletes to have at their disposal. Second, it provides media exposure through a partnership with ESPN. And third, its schools are in “major urban metropolitan areas,” where local businesses are abundant.

One thing the schools won’t do, however, is directly set up deals for athletes — which is against some state and school policies. “We’re not going to cheat,” she said. “We’re not going to cross the line.”

Preparing for Future Changes

In January, the NCAA will vote on a new constitution that will shift several powers, including NIL, from the national office to divisions.

Roe Lach doesn’t think this shift would be unprecedented. 

Divisions II and III have already made their own rules about what “amateurism” means to them, and what types of compensation athletes could accept to be eligible to play at those schools. 

Now, giving each division the power to set NIL rules is “an extension of where we’ve already been,” she said.

Of course, the Alston decision may have thrown a wrench into this plan. Roe Lach acknowledged the decision may not legally allow divisions to set NIL rules without violating antitrust. In that case, they’d need a federal law.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Can an Elite Women’s Soccer School Survive the New College Sports Moneyball?

Santa Clara faces an uphill battle in the new college sports landscape.
Billionaire Larry Ellison

Oracle Billionaire Larry Ellison Funded Michigan’s NIL Stunner

It appears to be Ellison’s first major investment in college sports.
Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit:

The Washington Spirit’s Business Makeover Carried Them to the Finals

The team’s return to the NWSL championship looks a lot different from 2021.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How Non-Football Programs Are Surviving the NIL Era

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.

Federal Judge Denies Motion to Ban San José State Volleyball Player From..

The judge explained his reasoning in a 28-page ruling Monday.
November 22, 2024

The Big Noon Debate: Will Ohio State’s Early Games Lead to Change?

The Buckeyes will end the season with seven noon ET kickoffs.
November 24, 2024

Chaotic Upsets Turn CFB’s Rivalry Weekend Into Must-See TV

Many berths in the 12-team College Football Playoff remain up for grabs.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 22, 2024

Michigan Flips No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood With Reported Eight-Figure NIL Deal

Underwood grew up near Michigan’s campus.
November 21, 2024

Old Rivals, New Stakes: Notre Dame and Army to Clash in Yankee..

The two schools are playing for the first time since 2016.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke gazes into the crowd after the Hoosiers beat Michigan on Nov. 9, 2024, in Bloomington, Indiana.
November 21, 2024

Companies Are ‘Misleading’ Athletes About Settlement Money, House Lawyers Say

Lawyers are asking the judge to take action to protect players.
Geno Auriemma
November 20, 2024

Geno Auriemma Becomes All-Time Winningest NCAA Basketball Coach

He took the record from Tara VanDerveer, who set it in January.