Players Coalition x Advance NIL Event Recap

COLUMBUS, OHIO [August 6th, 2024] – ADVANCE NIL (ADVANCE) and Players Coalition are proud to announce a strategic partnership designed to provide essential educational opportunities to student-athletes at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As revenue sharing becomes more prevalent in college athletics, many institutions, particularly HBCUs, find themselves in need of guidance on navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. This partnership aims to fill that gap, offering equitable resources to help level the playing field.

Players Coalition, renowned for its dedication to social justice and racial equality, is committed to activating resources like ADVANCE to improve the odds for every young athlete. An integral focus of Players Coalition is to provide public benefits through education, ensuring that every young person has the tools needed for success.

Luke Fedlam, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ADVANCE, emphasizes the critical nature of this initiative: “NIL does not discriminate. We give athletes the tools they need to transcend the statistics. We show them how to become a CEO in their own lives and capitalize on this moment, while protecting themselves and their futures.”

The statistics paint a sobering picture: many student-athletes face financial hardships, family challenges, and uncertainty about their future. By partnering, ADVANCE and Players Coalition aim to transform these challenges into opportunities, with education as the cornerstone. The successful launch of their programming at Houston Christian and Bowie State in the 2023-24 academic year received an overwhelmingly positive response, paving the way for broader support in the 2024-25 academic year.

NFL Legend and Players Coalition Advocate, Takeo Spikes shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Our partnership with ADVANCE is a game-changer for HBCU student-athletes. We are committed to providing them with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive both on and off the field. This initiative is about empowering the next generation to take control of their futures.”

Institutions interested in learning more about this transformative initiative and how to get involved are encouraged to contact ADVANCE NIL or Players Coalition for further information.

About Players Coalition 

Players Coalition is an independent 501(c)(3) (charity) and 501(c)(4) (advocacy) organization, working with more than 1,400 professional athletes, coaches, and owners across professional sports leagues to improve social justice and racial equality in our country.

About ADVANCE

Advance NIL (ADVANCE) is an industry leader in NIL education, athlete protection (ANSBC) and athlete development. Since 2019, ADVANCE has impacted over 40,000 athletes across pro sports, college and high school athletics through unbiased real-world practical programs. Their online education platform, NIL Academy, offers access to courses spanning key topics including Financial Management, Taxes, Contracts, Collectives, Camps/Clinics and more.

• Academy Multi-Platform Education (In-Person, Virtual, On-Demand Modules)
• Athlete Protection Third Party Due Diligence Directory (AthleteNSBC.com)
• Advisory Athletic Departments, High Schools State Associations and Sports Organizations

To learn more about ADVANCE visit www.AdvanceNIL.com

Media Contacts:

ADVANCE: Ashley Wechter, awechter@advancenil.com, 740-624-1696

Players Coalition: Lori Lord, lori@players-coalition.org, 832-715-1289