NIL Deals and Transfer Portals are Also Impacting College Staff and Their Roles

 

College sports is undergoing a significant transformation with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights and the increasing prevalence of transfer portals. These changes are reshaping how college staff operate, presenting both opportunities and challenges. With the rise of NIL deals and transfer portals, understanding the behind-the-scenes impact on college coaching staff is crucial. According to the NCAA, over 1,600 football players entered the transfer portal for 2023, highlighting the growing trend and its implications for college athletics.

How are NIL deals and transfer portals reshaping the roles and responsibilities of college staff?

This episode of “Krow Knows* looks into this timely topic with host AJ Krow speaking to guests Ace Gardner and Jacob Lewis from Coaches Vue, LLC. The trio talked about the profound changes these developments are bringing to college sports, such as the creation of new job roles, and also discussed their experiences and insights on managing these new dynamics.

Some of their discussion points regarding NIL deals and transfer portals included:

  • The evolving recruitment process and its impact on college staff workloads.
  • The role of technology in adapting to NIL deals and transfer portals challenges.
  • Strategies for building deeper connections with athletes amidst increasing turnover. 

Ace Gardner, co-founder of Coaches Vue, LLC, has a rich background in college sports, having played football and track at Southern Methodist University. With a career spanning marketing and consulting, Gardner has a unique perspective on how technology can support athletic programs, and how NIL deals and transfer portals are changing that.

Jacob Lewis is the Director of Operations and Strategic Planning at Coaches Vue, LLC, and has a deep understanding of the recruitment landscape. With firsthand experience also from his football career at Stephen F. Austin State University, Lewis provides valuable insights into the operational challenges faced by college staff today.

Article written by Alexandra Simon.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Johnnie Akin
From Deloitte to Startup CEO: Johnnie Akin on Risk, Faith, and Reinvention
November 5, 2025

Success today looks different—defined less by stability and more by the freedom to adapt and evolve. Professionals across industries are reimagining their careers, moving away from predictable ladders toward paths that reflect purpose and balance. What once meant climbing steadily toward partnership or promotion now often means taking bold pivots or pursuing second acts…

Read More
caregiver
From Caregiver to Changemaker: How Purpose and Community Create Lasting Impact
November 5, 2025

Resilience isn’t just about enduring challenges — it’s about leading with compassion, patience, and faith, even when the path feels uncertain. It’s a quality embodied by every caregiver, whose daily acts of care and commitment reflect the essence of true leadership — helping others grow stronger through empathy, service, and understanding. In this episode…

Read More
leaders
Great Leaders Share Knowledge, Build Trust, and Empower Future Talent
November 3, 2025

The conversation around skilled trades is shifting fast. After decades of “college for all” messaging, trade school enrollment is climbing steadily, signaling a renewed respect for hands-on, high-skill careers that literally keep the world running. In commercial HVAC and mechanical service, this change is not just academic — it’s shaping the next generation of leaders…

Read More
NBA
Slow Stories in a Fast League: Why the NBA Still Deserves Real, In-Depth Journalism
November 3, 2025

In a sports world increasingly defined by short-form clips, social algorithms, and viral takes, long-form storytelling remains a vital counterweight — the place where depth, nuance, and narrative still matter. The NBA, perhaps more than any other league, sits at the center of this tension: every quote can become a meme, every story a highlight…

Read More