Research Background

The literature surrounding NIL spans athlete compensation, recruiting, retention, competitive balance, athlete branding, and policy. This study builds on existing research by focusing specifically on coach perspectives regarding NIL's impact on recruitment and retention.

NIL and Recruiting

Examines how NIL has become a factor in recruiting conversations, athlete expectations, and program positioning.

Key takeaways

NIL is increasingly referenced in recruiting pitches and family conversations.
Program positioning often includes NIL infrastructure, education, and opportunities.
Coach communication strategies are adapting to NIL-aware prospects.

NIL and Retention

Explores how NIL may shape athletes' decisions to stay with a program, transfer, or reconsider their priorities.

Key takeaways

Retention may be influenced by NIL opportunity gaps between programs.
Athlete priorities (development, fit, NIL) shift across seasons and stages.
Programs are evaluating retention-focused communication and support.

Traditional Recruiting Factors

Long-standing factors that have shaped athlete recruitment prior to and alongside NIL.

Key takeaways

Coaching relationships and trust remain central to recruiting outcomes.
Academics, institutional fit, and culture continue to drive decisions.
Geographic, family, and developmental factors persist as priorities.

Traditional Retention Factors

Factors historically associated with whether athletes stay with their original program.

Key takeaways

Coach–athlete relationship quality is a strong retention predictor.
Role clarity and developmental trajectory influence retention.
Team culture and personal support systems matter beyond compensation.

Competitive Balance and Program Resources

Considers how disparities in NIL resources may shape competitive dynamics across programs and conferences.

Key takeaways

Resource disparities raise ongoing questions about balance.
Collective structures, donor networks, and conference context shape opportunity.
Programs vary widely in how NIL infrastructure is organized.

Coach and Administrator Perspectives

Highlights the underrepresented voices of coaches and administrators navigating NIL day-to-day.

Key takeaways

Coach perspectives are underrepresented in current NIL literature.
Administrators report new operational, compliance, and policy demands.
Adaptation strategies vary by program size, conference, and resources.

Note: This page provides a concise literature overview. Full-text PDFs are not hosted publicly. Citations and source links are used in place of downloadable copyrighted materials.

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