Did you know most college athletes had no personal brand to manage before 2021?

Did you know most college athletes had no personal brand to manage before 2021? Before NIL, a student-athlete's identity was straightforward: student, teammate, competitor.

Today, that same athlete may also be a brand ambassador, content creator, and contract negotiator — often without any formal preparation for what that means for their focus, relationships, or sense of self.

NIL created a financial opportunity. It also created a new layer of identity pressure that no one quite planned for.

The athletes navigating it well aren't just the ones with the biggest deals. They're the ones who know themselves beyond the brand.

How is your department preparing athletes for the identity complexity that NIL brings?