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Maryland embracing ‘100 percent essential’ NIL through public collectives

Originally posted on The NIL Deal | By Seamus McAvoy | Last updated 2/6/23

As debate continues over the ever-changing NIL world, Maryland is embracing collectives and their importance in maintaining competitive teams while supporting student-athletes and their families.

Maryland has three university-affiliated NIL collectives, all for men’s athletics. The Best Is Ahead Foundation is partnered with the football team, while Turtle NIL Management supports men’s basketball and the Hard Shell Collective works with lacrosse.

“Having NIL funds is 100 percent essential now,” said Dan Crowley, TBIAF Director. “You’re failing if you don’t have it. The reason I’m here is because it’s not going everywhere. For me to play a little role at Maryland and help do this thing the right way, that’s really cool.”

For Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley, “it’s a whole different world.”

“Between NIL, the Transfer Portal, instant eligibility, it’s definitely changed the whole landscape of college athletics,” said Locksley, who was college teammates with Crowley.

Maryland makes a point to highlight the name of their football-aligned TBIAF, which they call a foundation rather than a collective.

This organization, which launched in September, works to connect Terrapin football players with opportunities to engage with youth within the local community. Fans can donate to the organization and allow the athletes to be reimbursed for their time and effort.

We are Proud to announce the opening of The Best is Ahead Foundation in support of the @TerpsFootball Players to enhance the lives of the underserved youth in the DMV through our four key initiatives: #TBIA https://t.co/lAv9X60Df4
— The Best is Ahead Foundation, Inc. (@TBIAFoundation) September 22, 2022

This follows a model seen at some other charity-minded collectives in order to maintain their tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization. Other collectives are structured as LLCs; donations to such collectives are not tax-deductible.

“You’re basically killing two birds with one stone,” Locksley said of TBIAF. “You’re supporting the University of Maryland by supporting this foundation which affects the football players that are part of the university, while also supporting some of the great things we’re doing in the community.”

Turtle NIL Management is also unique in that it allows fans to donate directly to specific student-athletes on the men’s basketball team. Many other collectives pool donations together, and negotiate individual deals with players based on other factors.

“Many of these [opportunities] could be life altering — giving them better financial literacy, empowering them to be entrepreneurs, and providing real-world business acumen; all of which are educational skills that will help them as they go forward in life,” said men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard. “Turtle NIL Management helps manage these opportunities, while also helping our players evaluate how they can make the most of each.”

Maryland does not yet have a collective dedicated to supporting women’s sports. The school’s NIL marketplace, used to connect student-athletes with NIL opportunities, is open to all student-athletes.

This article first appeared on The NIL Deal and was syndicated with permission.

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