DAYTON, Ohio — Small businesses are seeing how they can benefit from partnering with student-athletes.

What You Need To Know

  • UD hosted about 100 business owners and executives to share more about how to make the most of Name, Image and Likeness with student-athletes

  • The University hopes to have even more local partners in NIL

  • NIL has changed the landscape of collegiate athletics, and it is now imperative to stay competitive in the space

  • UD hopes to find sustainable partnerships with local business partners 

The University of Dayton hosted nearly 100 business owners and executives Tuesday afternoon to garner more attention for Name, Image and Likeness deals.

The session featured men’s basketball coach Anthony Grant and women’s basketball coach Tamika Williams-Jeter to hear first-hand how these deals can impact their student-athletes.

Anthony Grant (left) and Tamika Williams-Jeter spoke about how NIL impacts their athletes. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

The hope for the University is to remain competitive but also work locally with businesses.

“Our hope is that local businesses find value in aligning with our student-athletes because if they find value, they’ll want to keep coming back, keep investing in them," UD Vice President and Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said. "And our athletes need to deliver on the court, they need to deliver off the court, they need to be marketable. Our goal with businesses is sustainable and repeatable.”

Premier Health has partnered with UD Athletics in the past. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

While NIL has changed the landscape of college sports over the last two years, UD hopes to make the most of the opportunities by making the local business community aware of how they can cash in on the promotions and what the Athletic Department needs to continue to be successful.

DaRon Holmes partnered with Lee's Chicken the last two seasons. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“The opportunity that’s presented our student-athletes gives our student-athletes to expand their brand, but it also gives the University the opportunity to expand its brand and then the company," Sullivan said. "So if you can find the line between UD basketball, the players themselves, and the local business community, we just think it creates an ecosystem of success for everybody.”

If you’re a local business that would like to partner with University of Dayton athletes in an NIL deal, visit UD's website or their affiliate NIL sports marketing company, Dayton 6th's website.