How NIL Changed Everything: The Future of Athlete Branding

What happens when college athletes become national celebrities overnight? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dale Arens (University of Iowa) and Craig Westemeier (University of Texas), we dive into the branding ripple effects of NIL, celebrity athletes, and the business of licensing at scale. From Caitlin Clark’s rise to the future of fair labor, this episode covers how student-athlete fame collides with institutional licensing and what it means to protect a brand while supporting individual opportunity. Dale and Craig reflect on their leadership roles, origin stories, and the coaching trees they’ve helped grow through mentorship. They also unpack the challenges of email culture, the power of a phone call, and why honest conversation still beats clever copy.