The world of college athletics is constantly changing throughout the country and on all levels of competition, and the same is true at St. Cloud State University for its student-athletes.
Among the latest changes introduced to the college athletic landscape includes the NCAA adopting guidance governing student-athletes’ Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), a policy that went into effect in 2021. This allows student-athletes to build their personal brands and receive compensation for the first time ever.
Before the policy went into effect, student-athletes and their programs were subject to penalization by the NCAA if found to have received any form of compensation during their time as a college athlete. But now, NIL allows student-athletes the freedom to do so — within NCAA rules and guidelines — which provides a new Husky Experience for athletes at SCSU.
“The new NIL opportunities have really changed the way we are able to position our student-athletes,” SCSU Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner said. “Instead of restricting what they do and not allowing them to benefit from their success and achievements, there is now a platform, if students choose, to promote themselves and benefit financially from it.”
Like with other college athletes, NIL allows Huskies to use their name, image and likeness in a variety of ways, including promoting their own business, promoting or endorsing a corporate entity, conducting campus clinics, making appearances, signing autographs and more.
SCSU student-athletes can now make compensation, either in-kind or monetarily, for engaging in NIL activities and are allowed to enter into legitimate NIL agreements with representatives of athletics interest — also known as boosters — as long as the agreement doesn’t include one of the restricted areas within NCAA rules.
As part of NIL, SCSU student-athletes may enter endorsements or NIL activities with sponsors of the University or entities that compete with sponsors of the University. Only those who are non-SCSU employees can compensate or arrange compensation to a current or prospective intercollegiate student-athlete for their name, image or likeness.
“We have to remember that NIL deals are not a get rich quick opportunity for most student-athletes, especially those at the Division II level,” Schreiner said. “While there are opportunities, not all opportunities come with a price tag that is life changing. But for those students who are able to make the connections and are willing to put in the time, NIL opportunities are a great way to enhance their scholarships and make some extra money on the side.”
In an attempt to assist student-athletes in building their personal brands, SCSU announced ahead of the 2023-24 season a partnership with Opendorse, the industry leader in NIL. The partnership includes the Huskies Marketplace, which serves as SCSU’s official NIL marketplace for student-athletes.
This new and accessible platform offers Huskies fans, brands and sponsors a single, streamlined platform to easily find, pitch, book and compensate SCSU student- athletes for their NIL services.
Through the partnership with Opendorse, student-athletes at SCSU have full access to the company’s all-in-one NIL platform, which provides best-in-class compliance, content and education tools.
This proven partner will help student-athletes navigate this new aspect of the intercollegiate experience, further enhancing their experience as a Husky.
