7 Takeaways from Michigan Sport Business Conference NIL Panel

On October 28, 2022, the 11th annual University of Michigan Sport Business Conference took place. A panel was held titled “The Ball is in Their Court: How NIL is Changing Collegiate Athletics.” This panel included:

• Hunter Dickinson, University of Michigan Men’s Basketball player
• Brittany McCallum, Vice President of Basketball Marketing at KLUTCH SPORTS GROUP
• Jim Cavale, Founder and CEO of INFLCR
• Jared Wangler, CEO of Valiant Management Group
• Brantlee Fields, Head of Athlete Partnerships at Twitter

While each panelist had insightful comments, these are a few of the important takeaways and how we interpreted them.

1. According to Brittany McCallum, education, communication, and relationship building holds more importance for her agency over money. Being able to help athletes foster skills that lead them to have adequate financial literacy as well as great communication skills is more important than just focusing on monetary gain.
2. Brittany McCallum and Brantlee Fields also stressed the importance of owning your voice and your platform. This also means having social media handles (names) that are your own so that you are easily accessible. For example, if your name is John Appleseed, make sure your social media reflects that name so that people who want to find John Appleseed can do so. Brands want your authentic self, which means having your name clear. NIL Network offers a great article on how to craft a good Instagram for athletes linked here.
3. Brantlee Fields stated that, nowadays, Twitter offers a way for athletes to directly connect with the world. While that is a blessing, it can also be a curse. It is crucial to monitoring what you put out there. Make sure what you are posting is something you would be okay with your family seeing. Linked here is an article outlining some Social Media Do’s and Don’ts.
4. Hunter Dickinson, when asked about what he looks for in an agent, stressed the importance of choosing someone you know, trust, and has a good reputation. This advice can go for anyone in your circle as an athlete, as you want to surround yourself with people who have your best interest and reputation in mind.
5. Jim Cavale wanted to remind the audience that, while the media reports on the meaty 1% of deals that have huge price tags, most athletes do not have these large deals – do not get discouraged.
6. When asked by an audience member about how to build your brand and get your name out there, Hunter Dickinson gave the advice, “try and just play your sport and be successful in what you do.” Brands and people recognize talent, but also someone who is very determined and driven.
7. When asked about the lack of support for international athletes regarding NIL, Brittany McCallum reluctantly stated that there is not much we can do as of now which is unfortunate. However, Jim Cavale did acknowledge Penn State’s billboard campaign launched in Canada to support Canadian football players. Penn State’s Success With Honor collective found a way for four players to monetize their brands as international student-athletes can’t do that the same way domestic student-athletes can through this loop-hole.

Overall, the panel was very informative as each panelist knew a great deal about NIL and seemed hopeful that the future is bright for collegiate athletes everywhere. We hope our 7 takeaways offered some insight into the minds of these great industry professionals!

To learn more about the Michigan Sport Business Conference NIL Panel, check out the CleanKonnect NIL Certification Course.