Derek Raivio Leads Gonzaga’s NIL Efforts Amid Shifting College Sports Landscape

Raivio’s mission is to help Gonzaga athletes build meaningful partnerships with businesses in the Spokane area. Unlike some programs that operate in a “pay-for-play” fashion, Gonzaga’s approach focuses on players earning compensation through actual services like marketing appearances, social media campaigns, or promotional work.

“There are programs out there handing out money without much accountability,” Raivio said. “We’re committed to doing NIL the right way—real deals that benefit both the athletes and the community.”

While Gonzaga has made strides in NIL over the past year and a half, Raivio acknowledged the broader challenges of working in an unregulated environment. Without uniform standards or financial transparency, bidding wars and secretive deals have become common.

“There’s no salary cap, and schools are operating behind closed doors,” he said. “Athletes deserve to be paid, but there needs to be a structure to it.”

That structure may be on the way. Raivio mentioned that a significant change is expected on July 1, when an NIL oversight system is anticipated to begin monitoring and verifying payments. He believes this could serve as a “soft cap” to create more balance across programs.

In addition, new revenue-sharing plans could see up to $20.5 million distributed annually across athletic departments, with a large chunk likely earmarked for football and basketball.

As Gonzaga eyes a revamped Pac-12, Raivio stressed that local support is crucial. “We need more engagement from Spokane businesses,” he said. “That’s how we keep Gonzaga competing at the highest level.”