College
Muma College of Business
Mentor Information
Christopher Brown
Description
The landscape of college athletics was completely restructured in 2021 when NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation passed, and the pace of change has not slowed since. With athletic departments facing new legal frameworks, financial pressures, and compliance demands, the question arises: how essential is corporate adaptability to institutional success in this era? Through content analysis of new laws, NCAA rulings, and two targeted case studies, this study argues that corporate adaptability is not merely advantageous but essential for athletic departments navigating the NIL landscape. Programs that have proactively restructured their operations, staffing, and compliance systems have positioned themselves for greater long-term competitiveness, while those that have failed to adapt risk falling behind in recruiting, compliance, and institutional relevance.
Corporate Adaptability in the NIL Era: How Athletic Departments Are Navigating a New Landscape
The landscape of college athletics was completely restructured in 2021 when NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation passed, and the pace of change has not slowed since. With athletic departments facing new legal frameworks, financial pressures, and compliance demands, the question arises: how essential is corporate adaptability to institutional success in this era? Through content analysis of new laws, NCAA rulings, and two targeted case studies, this study argues that corporate adaptability is not merely advantageous but essential for athletic departments navigating the NIL landscape. Programs that have proactively restructured their operations, staffing, and compliance systems have positioned themselves for greater long-term competitiveness, while those that have failed to adapt risk falling behind in recruiting, compliance, and institutional relevance.
