🤔 WTF is NIL: The Coach Isn’t Your Agent
Why Your Coach Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Handle Your NIL Deals
It’s 2025, and student-athletes are getting more opportunities than ever to cash in on their name, image, and likeness. Awesome, right?
Sure—until your coach suddenly becomes your contract advisor, your brand manager, and your unofficial NIL “mentor.”
Let’s clear something up before this turns into a very expensive mistake:
Your coach is not your lawyer.
They are not your agent.
And unless they’ve quietly picked up a J.D. in between practices…
They shouldn’t be reviewing your NIL contracts—at all.
🏀 Let’s Talk Roles
Your coach’s job is to develop athletes, run practices, and win games.
Not to:
Interpret legal language
Negotiate compensation
Evaluate IP rights
Manage your taxes
Or “connect” you with a sketchy brand their buddy started in 2012
Even the most well-meaning coaches are usually not trained in NIL compliance, contract law, or financial planning. And they definitely don’t have the same priorities you do.
🚩 Red Flags That Should Make You Pause
These are real statements we’ve heard from athletes and families:
💬 “My coach said it was a good deal, so I signed.”
💬 “He told me it was just a standard agreement.”
💬 “He said I shouldn’t ask for money—it’s a great opportunity for exposure.”
💬 “They made the whole team post it.”
🚨 Stop. Right. There.
That’s not guidance. That’s pressure.
And in many cases? It’s not even legal.
⚖️ Why This Matters Legally
Here’s what most athletes (and coaches) don’t know:
If your coach reviews or negotiates your contract, they may be acting as an unlicensed agent—which violates NCAA rules in many cases.
If your coach is steering you toward a specific brand or sponsor, that’s a potential conflict of interest—especially if the school or team has its own deals in place.
If you sign something based on a coach’s advice and it turns out bad? You’re still on the hook. Not them.
Your coach isn’t liable. You are.
👥 Loyalty ≠ Legal Protection
You trust your coach. That’s fine.
But trust doesn’t replace legal protection.
Your coach may want what’s best for you—but they also want wins, recruiting results, and team harmony. Those priorities don’t always align with your financial well-being or long-term brand health.
You don’t need to burn bridges.
You do need boundaries.
✅ So What Should You Do Instead?
Here’s your smarter game plan:
Bring in an attorney (hi, again 👋) to review any NIL offer before you sign.
Use your own agent or rep—not someone “recommended” by the school or coach.
Ask questions about payment, image rights, termination clauses, and tax liability.
Check if the school or state has NIL rules limiting coach involvement.
You wouldn’t let your coach file your taxes or write your will.
So why let them shape your brand?
🧠 Final Thought
Respect your coach. Run their plays. Do the work.
But when it comes to NIL?
Get your own damn team.
You’re the brand.
Protect it. Build it. OWN it.
🛡️ Newburg Law – Your Family. Your Future. Your Foundation.