The name game

Athletics greets 'NIL' era with support program for athletes, alumni

issue 3, 2021

By CHRIS LAZZARINO

In the wake of a landmark NCAA rule change, which itself followed a unanimous Supreme Court decision that declared limits on student-athletes’ education-related benefits in violation of federal law, Kansas Athletics launched Jayhawks Ascend, a “name, image and likeness,” or NIL, education and assistance program.

“With the initialization of Name, Image and Likeness and the [prominence]that comes with being a student-athlete at KU, Jayhawks Ascend will elevate our student-athletes and allow them to flourish in this new day and age in college athletics,” says AthleticsDirector Travis Goff, c’03, j’03.

The program will coach athletes, now free to capitalize on their name recognition, in areas such as personal brand management, legal services and entrepreneurship training, and financial literacy and business fundamentals.

“Our athletic department has put countless hours and planning into this,” says men’s basketball coach Bill Self, “and has done a great job making this program unique to the unbelievable resources we have here at KU.”

NIL guidelines for boosters and fans can be found at here.

The name game

Athletics greets 'NIL' era with support program for athletes, alumni

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