The NCAA Name, Image, License deal (NIL) has already become beneficial for players and their sponsors. In a short amount of time, we’ve already seen sneaker boutiques teaming up with players. Now, the one and only Phil Knight and a handful of former Nike executives are starting an Oregon-exclusive NIL company.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight alongside Pat Kilkenny, Ed Maletis, Jim Morse, and the Papé Family announce Division Street, Inc., a sports venture assisting Oregon student-athletes in their NIL deals. Former VP and GM of Nike Women Rosemary St. Clair will serve as the CEO of the new entity and former Nike VP of Sports Marketing Rudy Chapa will serve as Chairman of the Board.
Division Street will also include Adopt, a creative company focused on athletes and sport co-founded by Klutch Sports Group founder and CEO Rich Paul. Adopt’s team includes former Nike and Jordan Brand executives Nicole Graham, Josh Moore, David Creech (former Creative Director of Jordan Brand), and Garren Strong (former head of product for the Air Jordan 1).
In addition, New York Liberty guard and Oregon alum Sabrina Ionescu will serve as Chief Athlete Officer for Division Street to represent the players’ voices.
“As an athlete navigating the world of brand and partnerships myself, I see a real opportunity to provide today’s college players more professional counsel as they grapple with the new NIL landscape,” Ionescu said. “I’m excited that Division Street also sees that need and is bringing together an all-star team to address this for Oregon. I’m also very passionate about ensuring diversity in gender and sport, and that will be part of my focus in this new role.”
“You have to remember education and competing as an athlete are your first priority so that needs to be your focus,” said Ionescu. “Division Street is going to be an amazing resource in freeing up student-athletes to focus on what’s most important without sacrificing opportunities to take advantage of NIL.”
The University of Oregon athletics department, because of its alumni ties and location, has long been a funnel to get top athletes into the Nike system and this new venture promises to be another incentive for prep stars to land in Eugene.