Kansas State University Athletics
‘There’s Massive Potential’
Feb 06, 2024 | Sports Extra, Athletics
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Carrying the slogan "Guiding Athletes, Engaging Fans," the Wildcat NIL collective became the official partner of Kansas State Athletics last Thursday and appears poised to help keep the Wildcats competitive and equip student-athletes with resources necessary to succeed.
Collectives provide student-athletes opportunities to benefit financially by profiting from their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights. Wildcat NIL was formed to support and serve the best interests of K-State student-athletes through NIL.
"(Collectives) have certainly become more important just in the last 12-16 months," K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. "There's a balancing act there. They're important to us because we need the help in terms of finding folks who really want to support the NIL effort. We are limited because of NCAA rules that govern what we can and can't do. That's where collectives have come in and have played a vital role.
"We're trying to balance that with our other needs. They've certainly become more important. We're trying to make that relationship as close as it can be within NCAA rules."
Wildcat NIL is the only collective administered by former K-State student-athletes and aims to work with men's and women's scholarship and walk-on student-athletes and raise money to keep K-State competitive and equip student-athletes with resources necessary to succeed. The Wildcat NIL Foundation, Inc., is a Kansas nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Wildcat NIL is funded by K-State fans, whose support directly impacts the success of K-State athletic programs.
"There's massive potential," said Curry Sexton, a former K-State football player who joined Wildcat NIL in an administrative role. "We have an incredibly passionate fan base and a really impressive array of coaches. We're probably in as good of shape as we've ever been in a coaching space, and there's success that follows and success really incentivizes fans to become involved. The fan base and coaches are two huge pieces.
"We have a great athletic director in Gene Taylor, who's accomplished some really fantastic things at K-State and has really melded the fan base together. All of those things put together make this a ripe opportunity for us to attack this NIL space."
Wildcat NIL is the brainchild of former K-State football player Ryan Henington, who began laying the groundwork for the venture shortly after completing his playing career in 2021. Henington and former quarterback Jesse Ertz headed initial efforts. Former basketball player Pierson McAtee joined the venture. Sexton followed.
"I was always impressed with the vision of the individuals at Wildcat NIL," Sexton said. "The collective did some very positive things in supporting walk-ons and engaging with local charities and various things. Wildcat NIL obtained 501 © (3) status from the IRS, so I was enthused with their vision and goals. I was very interested in the vision they possessed."
Taylor believes in the collective as well and announced it as the official NIL partner for K-State Athletics.
"What I like about Wildcat NIL is that most of its leadership are former student-athletes, so they get it and want what's best for our student-athletes and they understand the importance of how we need both NIL and operational dollars," Taylor said. "They've been easy to work with, and the biggest thing is they care a great deal about K-State Athletics, in particular our student-athletes, and they made that a priority."
Wildcat NIL works with K-State athletic administration and compliance personnel, and provides student-athletes with financial literacy education, investment opportunities, legal support and personal brand development.
"It keeps us competitive," Taylor said. "Our ability to have NIL opportunities for our student-athletes once they get here is critical. If you ask the coaches — men's and women's basketball, football, and even volleyball and baseball — in order for them to recruit, it's important to say, 'If you come here, here are the opportunities that exist with NIL,' and we can provide them with examples of student-athletes that have it. As long as we have that ability, it allows our coaches to be competitive from a recruiting perspective."
K-State fans can be a part of Wildcat NIL by purchasing a subscription on the WildcatNIL.com website for exclusive content featuring K-State staff, coaches and student-athletes, or fans can make a one-time or monthly contribution to directly support K-State student-athletes. Contributors will receive merchandise and other benefits while helping elevate rosters and talent at K-State.
"There are two different buckets," Sexton said. "With a donation over $250, fans will receive a tax receipt, so that's an incentive. The Wildcat NIL membership side targets the entire fan base, and it's something fans can get involved with from $10 to $90 per month. You'll receive different merchandise and swag and varying levels of online access, which includes exclusive interviews and podcast and coach Zoom calls and maybe some Wildcat NIL tailgates. We do all kinds of things for our members.
"The idea is if fans sign up, they're going to get some access and perks and along the way they're going to support our student-athletes."
K-State fans can connect with K-State's fan base by aligning their company with the Wildcat NIL platform and receive promotional benefits.
Wildcat NIL was created and is administered by former K-State student athletes, including Henington, Ertz, McAtee and Sexton. Other members of the Wildcat NIL team include Coleman Younger, Ross Elder, Brad Fulmer, Christian Chalabi and Vern Hendricks. The Wildcat NIL advisory board includes Skylar Thompson, Byron Pringle, Brookelynn Entz, John Vanier, Dean Wade, John Fairleigh and Dalton Risner.
"With our ability to cooperate as much as we can under NCAA rules and with us being able to tell the story of how important it is from the athletic side, to their side, to donors, and letting donors know we're on the same page, I think their opportunities to generate revenue is going to continue to increase," Taylor said. "That's the most important thing. At the same time, the donors know we still need Ahearn Fund donations, and for them to buy tickets, and they can help us tell that story as well. (The Wildcat NIL) potential is pretty high right now.
"NIL from a coach's perspective in an ability to recruit is critically important. That's why we're joining them to do as much as we can within the rules to cooperate and help them generate as much NIL money as we can."
Carrying the slogan "Guiding Athletes, Engaging Fans," the Wildcat NIL collective became the official partner of Kansas State Athletics last Thursday and appears poised to help keep the Wildcats competitive and equip student-athletes with resources necessary to succeed.
Collectives provide student-athletes opportunities to benefit financially by profiting from their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights. Wildcat NIL was formed to support and serve the best interests of K-State student-athletes through NIL.
"(Collectives) have certainly become more important just in the last 12-16 months," K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. "There's a balancing act there. They're important to us because we need the help in terms of finding folks who really want to support the NIL effort. We are limited because of NCAA rules that govern what we can and can't do. That's where collectives have come in and have played a vital role.
"We're trying to balance that with our other needs. They've certainly become more important. We're trying to make that relationship as close as it can be within NCAA rules."
Wildcat NIL is the only collective administered by former K-State student-athletes and aims to work with men's and women's scholarship and walk-on student-athletes and raise money to keep K-State competitive and equip student-athletes with resources necessary to succeed. The Wildcat NIL Foundation, Inc., is a Kansas nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Wildcat NIL is funded by K-State fans, whose support directly impacts the success of K-State athletic programs.
"There's massive potential," said Curry Sexton, a former K-State football player who joined Wildcat NIL in an administrative role. "We have an incredibly passionate fan base and a really impressive array of coaches. We're probably in as good of shape as we've ever been in a coaching space, and there's success that follows and success really incentivizes fans to become involved. The fan base and coaches are two huge pieces.
"We have a great athletic director in Gene Taylor, who's accomplished some really fantastic things at K-State and has really melded the fan base together. All of those things put together make this a ripe opportunity for us to attack this NIL space."
Wildcat NIL is the brainchild of former K-State football player Ryan Henington, who began laying the groundwork for the venture shortly after completing his playing career in 2021. Henington and former quarterback Jesse Ertz headed initial efforts. Former basketball player Pierson McAtee joined the venture. Sexton followed.
"I was always impressed with the vision of the individuals at Wildcat NIL," Sexton said. "The collective did some very positive things in supporting walk-ons and engaging with local charities and various things. Wildcat NIL obtained 501 © (3) status from the IRS, so I was enthused with their vision and goals. I was very interested in the vision they possessed."
Taylor believes in the collective as well and announced it as the official NIL partner for K-State Athletics.
"What I like about Wildcat NIL is that most of its leadership are former student-athletes, so they get it and want what's best for our student-athletes and they understand the importance of how we need both NIL and operational dollars," Taylor said. "They've been easy to work with, and the biggest thing is they care a great deal about K-State Athletics, in particular our student-athletes, and they made that a priority."
Wildcat NIL works with K-State athletic administration and compliance personnel, and provides student-athletes with financial literacy education, investment opportunities, legal support and personal brand development.
"It keeps us competitive," Taylor said. "Our ability to have NIL opportunities for our student-athletes once they get here is critical. If you ask the coaches — men's and women's basketball, football, and even volleyball and baseball — in order for them to recruit, it's important to say, 'If you come here, here are the opportunities that exist with NIL,' and we can provide them with examples of student-athletes that have it. As long as we have that ability, it allows our coaches to be competitive from a recruiting perspective."
K-State fans can be a part of Wildcat NIL by purchasing a subscription on the WildcatNIL.com website for exclusive content featuring K-State staff, coaches and student-athletes, or fans can make a one-time or monthly contribution to directly support K-State student-athletes. Contributors will receive merchandise and other benefits while helping elevate rosters and talent at K-State.
"There are two different buckets," Sexton said. "With a donation over $250, fans will receive a tax receipt, so that's an incentive. The Wildcat NIL membership side targets the entire fan base, and it's something fans can get involved with from $10 to $90 per month. You'll receive different merchandise and swag and varying levels of online access, which includes exclusive interviews and podcast and coach Zoom calls and maybe some Wildcat NIL tailgates. We do all kinds of things for our members.
"The idea is if fans sign up, they're going to get some access and perks and along the way they're going to support our student-athletes."
K-State fans can connect with K-State's fan base by aligning their company with the Wildcat NIL platform and receive promotional benefits.
Wildcat NIL was created and is administered by former K-State student athletes, including Henington, Ertz, McAtee and Sexton. Other members of the Wildcat NIL team include Coleman Younger, Ross Elder, Brad Fulmer, Christian Chalabi and Vern Hendricks. The Wildcat NIL advisory board includes Skylar Thompson, Byron Pringle, Brookelynn Entz, John Vanier, Dean Wade, John Fairleigh and Dalton Risner.
"With our ability to cooperate as much as we can under NCAA rules and with us being able to tell the story of how important it is from the athletic side, to their side, to donors, and letting donors know we're on the same page, I think their opportunities to generate revenue is going to continue to increase," Taylor said. "That's the most important thing. At the same time, the donors know we still need Ahearn Fund donations, and for them to buy tickets, and they can help us tell that story as well. (The Wildcat NIL) potential is pretty high right now.
"NIL from a coach's perspective in an ability to recruit is critically important. That's why we're joining them to do as much as we can within the rules to cooperate and help them generate as much NIL money as we can."
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