Gonzaga Announces “Next Level” NIL Program

Gonzaga’s athletics program introduced Next Level, a comprehensive program designed to assist student-athletes as they navigate the tricky world of name, images, and likeness (NIL).

“With the NIL opportunities coming in the near future, I am excited that we are giving student-athletes a real chance to build their brands,” GU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Few said. “I’ve been a big believer in the NIL movement, and I’m proud that we can start helping our players capitalize on their potential.”

According to the press release, Next Level will focus on personal brand management, financial literacy, business and entrepreneurship, social media, and NIL legislation. What all of this means or how it looks for the student-athletes has yet to be determined, but it is great to see the Gonzaga Bulldogs look to get at least one step ahead and focus on how they can help their players.

With the Supreme Court recently uniting for a 9-0 decision against the NCAA and a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, it is now just a question of when, not if, college athletes can ever capitalize on their image. Gonzaga head coach Mark Few spoke during the Senate committee meeting, and Keith Ybanez’s breakdown has all of the details you need. In short, he is fully in favor.

Again, details are sparse, but anything that helps setup Gonzaga players to navigate these issues is a good thing in my book.