Indiana University Athletics has announced a partnership to prepare for anticipated name, image and likeness rules for college athletes.
The school included quotes from AD Scott Dolson along with Archie Miller and Tom Allen in a release on Wednesday.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Athletics announced today its decision to join Opendorse Ready, the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Readiness program. With experience maximizing endorsement value for thousands of professional athletes since 2012, Opendorse has established the Ready program to apply its proven social media solutions to prepare student-athletes for coming changes to Name, Image, and Likeness rights.
“The NIL rights movement opens the door for Indiana Athletics to provide the students in our program with life skills that will prove valuable well beyond their time on campus,” said Indiana Athletics Director Scott Dolson. “When these changes come, we have to be prepared to educate and assist our student-athletes with the best possible resources.
“The Opendorse team has done this at the professional level for years. As a longtime partner, we have seen first-hand how student-athlete brand building can turn into professional success beyond the field for Hoosiers alumni.”
Opendorse Ready provides student-athletes the opportunity to understand their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights and receive hands-on assistance from experts to maximize their value while on campus. The program offers three core pillars to student-athlete success: Assessment, Education, and Performance – tailored to assist each individual athlete. By joining now with a 3-year partnership commitment, the Hoosiers are able to offer the program’s NIL readiness solutions to every student-athlete at the University.
“We’re preparing every Indiana student-athlete for long-term success beyond the field,” said Indiana Head Football Coach Tom Allen. “It’s clear that NIL rights will play a significant role in the future of college football. This Opendorse partnership and our relationship with the Media School will equip IU athletes with the best brand building tools in the country.”
The agreement positions Indiana as one of the first universities in the country to unveil an athletics department-wide NIL solution for its athletes. The Hoosiers join athletics programs from the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 as the first schools to adopt the program nationwide.
“Hoosiers Basketball is backed by some of the most passionate fans in college sports,” said Indiana Head Basketball Coach Archie Miller. “It’s my belief that our tradition and fanbase will set Indiana apart as an NIL leader, helping our student-athletes to establish some of the most valuable personal brands in college sports. I’m proud of this University for leading on NIL rights and providing the athletes in our program with the tools needed to find success beyond the court.”
“Lynnea Phillips and Indiana Athletics have been a leader in the athlete-driven movement for years,” Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said. “We’ve worked hand-in-hand to build student-athlete brands, and now I’m proud to help Indiana lead the NIL era. They understand that Opendorse Ready isn’t a ‘check-the-box’ solution to simply make a headline and impress recruits. It’s a compliant, proven commitment to provide their student-athletes with the technology and resources used everyday by the most marketable athletes and biggest leagues in professional sports.”
Founded by Nebraska Football alumni Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic, Opendorse has become a proven market leader in helping sports organizations and their athletes increase the value of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) with social media. More than 15,000 athletes currently use Opendorse to maximize their endorsement value in collaboration with partners on social media. In addition to partnerships with more than 100 college athletics programs, Opendorse has also partnered with the NFLPA, NBPA, NHL, PGA Tour among other sports properties. Hundreds of brands including Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and EA Sports also use the platform to execute endorsement campaigns with professional athletes.
About Opendorse
Opendorse powers the athlete endorsement ecosystem. Today more than 15,000 athletes around the world use the sports technology company to build their personal brands by publishing social media content from partners including the PGA TOUR, NHL, NFLPA, NBPA, over 100 professional and collegiate sports teams, and hundreds of brands.
The platform is purpose-built for athletes make the most of their moment and to capture the massive opportunity at-hand with the organizations they’re connected to. From All-Americans to All-Pros – when athletes maximize endorsement value alongside their partners and organizations – they do it with Opendorse.
