BYU Athletics Endorses The Royal Blue NIL Collective
Dec 22, 2022, 10:00 AM | Updated: 10:08 am
BYU athletics is now in the NIL Collective space. They have endorsed the Royal Blue Collective. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – As BYU prepares for life in the Big 12 Conference, the Cougars will now have an official NIL collective to support its student-athletes.
The next step in name, image, and likeness for BYU Athletics.
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) December 22, 2022
The Royal Blue launched and has signed a corporate sponsorship agreement with BYU Athletics.
BYU Athletics has an official NIL Collective
Since revised NIL rules were issued in October by the NCAA, schools are now permitted to endorse or ask donors to provide funds to NIL collectives. As a result, the Royal Blue is the first NIL Collective that has an official connection to BYU Athletics.
“We are excited to work with The Royal Blue as a corporate sponsor of BYU Athletics and for the opportunities they’ll bring to our student-athletes,” said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. “We are certain they understand BYU’s unique mission and commitment to promote the incredible student-athletes at BYU. We believe working with the Collective is the right move. As we look to our future, competing in the Big 12, this is an important signal to Cougar Nation and future recruits that we are invested in providing beneficial and substantive opportunities for our student-athletes.”
Prominent BYU donors and supporters of BYU athletics formed the Royal Blue Collective. Eight people, including former BYU basketball guard Craig Cusick, are on the collective board of directors. It’s operated by Oncoor Sports, one of the leaders in the NIL Collective marketplace.
Head over to https://t.co/IvFTtJ0Gy9 for more information pic.twitter.com/RxltXHPSbq
— Royal Blue Collective (@RoyalBlueNIL) December 22, 2022
Oncoor has worked in different capacities with groups and donor collectives across the nation, including Arizona State University, the University of Louisville and TCU.
“We are passionate to deliver an excellent NIL solution that attracts and develops gifted athletes who will compete on the national stage and are excited for Cougar Nation to have the opportunity to be an integral part of supporting BYU student-athletes,” The Royal Blue Co-Chairman Mark Comer stated.
Work with all BYU student-athletes
The Royal Blue Collective plans to include all student-athletes at BYU. With an effort to put BYU athletics in a spot to be competitive in the Big 12 Conference.
The Royal Blue has met extensively with BYU Athletics to ensure alignment with the mission and ideals of the athletic department. BYU Administration responded favorably that although the TRB’s initial focus is on NIL opportunities for the BYU football and men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes, ultimately, TRB hopes to engage with student-athletes from every sport at BYU.
The Collective’s efforts will be focused on leveraging the unique opportunities presented by NIL to create a program that will position teams to excel athletically while preparing each student-athlete for life beyond sports.
The Royal Blue NIL Collective has five components
TRB has five components that it will offer to BYU student-athletes. One of those components includes financial support through NIL endorsements.
Another is financial literacy. TRB is expected to offer a series of programs that will give student-athletes a chance to learn about taxes, investing, and other financial education. There will also be a branding and marketing piece for the Collective. Providing the individuals do’s and don’ts of social media and elevating their brands.
#BYU AD Tom Holmoe on The Royal Blue NIL Collective.#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/2LvuMkwweP
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2022
TRB is also expected to have a mentoring program that will give access to the network of donors and business people involved with the Collective.
Plus, a mental health and sports wellness to off full-time assistance to the players.
“The Collective is committed to supporting BYU in being a consistent national leader in collegiate athletic performance and seeing all its student-athletes promote light and goodness in life beyond sports. We believe a BYU education for student-athletes should provide a whole life experience that exceeds that of any other educational institution,” said Co-Chairman Lon Henderson.
Fans can donate
For fans of BYU sports, alums can also donate to TRB through royalbluecollective.org. TRB will be a tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) for classification as a public charity.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU moving to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
