University of Connecticut Athletics
Name, Image, Likeness at UConn
Championship Labs
Your Playbook to Monetizing NIL
Championship Labs at The Werth Institute educates and inspires student-athletes to become entrepreneurs to their name, image and likeness (NIL). We work one-on-one with students to create a blueprint to monetize their personal brand while empowering them with the skillsets of an entrepreneur.
Ways to Monetize NIL
Selling Autographs
Building a Brand
Social Media and Influencer Activities
Starting a Company
Personal Appearances
Private Lessons
Running Camps or Clinics
Other Third-party Deals
How We Help Student-Athletes
Championship Labs is here to PREPARE and PROPEL student-athletes to maximize NIL opportunities.
Prepare
Personal Profile: During the onboarding process, we work together with student-athletes to develop their identity and recognize their strengths, inner abilities, interests and goals.
Life Skills Building: Workshops, Coffee Chats speaker series, mentoring and one-on-one sessions led by former athletes, entrepreneurs and other leaders will build knowledge in the following areas:
- NIL compliance
- Contracts
- Legal matters
- Networking
- Personal finance
- Crafting professional emails
- Social media
- Taxes
- Student well-being (work/life balance)
Propel
Personalized Revenue Plan: We work individually with each athlete to help leverage their personal strengths in order to accelerate their growth and money-making ability. Opportunities may include but are not limited to:
- Third-party deals: Championship Labs provides guidance with deal sourcing and negotiations.
- Brand development: Our team of professionals help with brand identity, strategy and marketing.
- Launching a company: With a network of serial entrepreneurs and business leaders on hand, most of whom are former athletes, Championships Labs provides an array of entrepreneurial academic and hands-on experiential learning programs along with funding support to launch a business.
NIL in Action
Adama Sanogo
UConn Huskies
#21
Forward
Adama Sanogo grew up in Bamako, Mali and first played soccer before switching to basketball in 2014. He moved to the United States to play for Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York before signing with UConn for the 2020-2021 season. Adama became a starter in the third game of his freshman season at UConn and recorded a season-high 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a 69–58 win over Seton Hall in 2021. As a freshman, he averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, earning Big East All-Freshman Team honors. Adama was named to the First Team All-Big East in 2022.
AIn the summer of 2022, Adama launched a summer basketball camp in his hometown in Mali, supported by a donation made possible through the new NIL rules.
This camp was really important for me to do because I remember when I first started playing basketball in Mali, people use to do this type of camp to help us with free shoes, talk to us about how basketball could change us and also teach us some basketball skills. So, this camp was a giving back for me, it was a two-day camp where 47 kids all had free equipment, free food and we teach them some basketball skills. After the camp l also talked to kids about basketball in general and how they could use basketball to change their life. I told them to start taking basketball more serious by working hard. I told them I was like them and they could be me in the future if they work hard and take it serious.”
Get Involved
Student-Athletes
Let the team at Championship Labs coach you through NIL and help you write your playbook to monetizing this new era of college sports.
Alumni
Join the Championship Labs team by becoming a mentor, a featured speaker for our Coffee Chats series, consultant and more. To get involved, contact:
Tara Watrous
Head of Entrepreneurial Transformation, The Werth Institute
tara.watrous@uconn.edu
Companies
Does your company have a NIL opportunity you want to explore? Contact nil@uconn.edu
Connect with a Student-Athlete
Fans or companies interested in connecting with a student-athlete to propose an NIL activity can simply visit UConnHuskies.com/NILMarketplace. Examples of how fans can engage easily and securely with UConn student-athletes via the Marketplace include autograph signings, in-person or virtual appearances at birthday parties and other events, video shoutouts, and private lessons.
Find a Student-AthleteUse of Marks by Student-Athletes During NIL Activities
A student-athlete may not participate in an endorsement contract or employment activity where the arrangement also involves the use of University marks unless the University has provided the student-athlete with prior written approval. Written permission for the use of University Marks in any student-athlete's NIL activity shall be requested by completing and submitting the UConn Branding & Licensing Request Form. For questions related to NIL Activities and UConn Branding, please email licensing@uconn.edu for assistance.
NIL Resources
NIL activity disclosure information
Student-athletes are required to disclose all NIL activity agreements and contracts for professional services for representation. Disclosure must occur through the Opendorse platform. To disclose an NIL activity, please login to Opendorse
What Forms of NIL Compensation are prohibited?
(a) Compensation for a student-athlete's NIL may not be conditioned on athletic performance or participation.
(b) Compensation for a student-athlete's NIL may not be conditioned on a student-athlete remaining enrolled at the University.
(c) Compensation for a student-athlete's NIL may not be conditioned on a student-athlete enrolling at the University.
(d) Compensation without a clear quid pro quo (e.g., receiving tickets to a sporting event without being required to provide any service in return) is prohibited.
(e) Crowdfunding. (a) Use of crowdfunding platforms (e.g., GoFundMe) or applications used to accept funds from outside individuals (e.g., CashApp, Venmo) will be impermissible if used as a means of pay for play or accepting funds for personal uses (e.g., purchasing a car or house). (b) Crowdfunding platforms may be utilized for the following permissible uses (as per NCAA legislation): a) soliciting funds for use of NIL in regard to fundraising activities for a nonprofit/charitable or educational organization; and b) soliciting funds for actual and necessary expenses for outside competition.
View all UConn's NIL Procedures for more information
Which third parties are student-athletes prohibited from engaging in NIL activities with?
(a) A tobacco company or brand, including any tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, electronic nicotine delivery system, or any electronic nicotine delivery system retailer, or any specialty retailer of electronic nicotine delivery systems or tobacco specialty store.
(b) Any alcoholic beverage company, brand, wholesaler, or store specializing in alcohol retail.
(c) Any marijuana company, product, brand, wholesaler, or store specializing in marijuana retail.
(d) Any seller or dispensary of a controlled substance, as defined by federal law.
(e) Any adult entertainment, sexually suggestive products, or sex-oriented products, services, conduct, imagery, or inferences.
(f) Any product, substance, or method that is prohibited in competition by an athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization governing intercollegiate athletic program competition.
(g) Any gambling activity.
(h) Any company that offers services for homework assistance or paper writing assistance.
View all UConn's NIL Procedures for more information
Student-athletes seeking to use University marks, and/or to reserve an on-campus facility, for NIL activities
Student-athletes seeking to use University marks, and/or to reserve an on-campus facility, for NIL activities must first obtain permission from UConn.
Additional Questions?
Contact Special Assistant to the AD, Jason Butikofer or Assistant Athletic Director of Athletics Administration Cat Zuppani at nil@uconn.edu
Board of Directors
Lorin Dixon
Founder and CEO
ZaveryCakes
Amy Errett
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Madison Reed
Brian Krause
Chief Development Officer
Focus Brands
Aaron Torres
Owner
Aaron Torres Media
