Julie Owen, who beforehand served as senior affiliate athletics director at Ok-State, returned in July because the division’s new govt director of cap administration and income sharing. Brett Foltz, who has served on the Ahearn Fund workers in a fundraising position, has been named affiliate athletics director for NIL initiatives and strategic income, whereas an assistant director of NIL place is at present posted for rent.
“As college athletics evolves, we must be proactive,” Taylor mentioned. “Housing all our NIL initiatives inside the department allows us to streamline our messaging so that our fans know the best way to support our teams and student-athletes is directly through our department. It also allows us to leverage opportunities for student-athletes to earn true, third-party NIL with businesses. The above-the-cap NIL space must be a focus of ours moving forward, and we know these staff advancements will put us in a position to help our student-athletes.”
Owen’s position works primarily with the income sharing piece of the division, which incorporates coordinating with coaches and basic managers on allocation and distribution of these funds, in addition to navigating the precise contract building and redlining processes. She additionally coordinates third-party NIL deal submission in NIL Go with Learfield, exterior entities and student-athletes whereas serving because the liaison to the College Sports Commission on pending NIL Go submissions.
Foltz will lead the division’s third-party NIL efforts which have grow to be a vital piece of recruiting and retaining student-athletes. His most important obligations are to determine, domesticate, solicit and steward native, regional, and nationwide third events on leads for NIL and enterprise growth alternatives whereas additionally working with Ok-State Sports Properties and the athletics division on different strategic income and enterprise growth alternatives.
The position of assistant director of NIL will help Foltz and likewise work intently with Ok-State Sports Properties (Learfield) on the success of NIL model partnerships.
Those wishing to proceed to assist Ok-State’s income sharing and NIL initiatives have numerous choices to achieve this. The Ahearn Fund just lately launched the “Fighting Ever Fighting” marketing campaign constructed upon philanthropic items to the Ahearn Excellence Fund. These items will earn donor precedence factors, Ahearn Fund member advantages and could also be tax deductible. Beyond income sharing, the Ahearn Fund will proceed its conventional focus of proving assets to scholar athletes for achievement in competitors and within the classroom.
In addition, Ok-State will quickly launch Cats+, a brand new subscription-based service that may present followers a direct path to assist Wildcat student-athletes whereas additionally seeing advantages in return. The service, out there on a month-to-month or yearly plan, will embody behind-the-scenes entry; particular options highlighting Ok-State student-athletes and coaches by way of movies, podcast and particular Ok-State Sports Extra articles written by D. Scott Fritchen; early entry to digital and product-based gadgets; unique digital content material; traditional sport replays and enter-to-win sweepstakes for experiences and merchandise.
Businesses keen on direct third-party NIL offers with Wildcat student-athletes also can attain out to Foltz for help by way of e mail at [email protected].
For extra data on Ok-State’s NIL processes, click here.