NIL 101 – for students, parents and coaches

USF’s Foundations of NIL certificate program offers information for student-athletes, parents, administrators and coaches interested in maximizing opportunities for athletes to profit from their names, images and likenesses.

Just ask Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, the perennial All-Pro linebacker from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his storied NFL career from 1995 to 2008. Brooks’ daughter, DaNia, is a USF softball player.

“I took the course because the world of NIL has taken athletics in a new direction, and I wanted to know more,’’ Brooks says. “I learned a lot. It gave me an understanding not only of what NIL really is, but what it can be.

“I would encourage any parent of an athlete to take it. It helps you understand and manage expectations of what the NIL process is. It shows you that it’s just part of your decision to pursue an education, not the main thing.’’

An all-inclusive fee of $149 covers the fully online program, produced by USF’s Corporate Training and Professional Education unit in partnership with USF Innovative Education and Total NIL.

The course is composed of four modules — NIL 101, Defining Your Brand, Maximizing Social Media and The Anatomy of an NIL Deal. Each can be completed in about an hour, and they’re available at any time. They include real-world case studies, illustrative examples and insights from industry experts.

For more information, go to usf.to/nilcertificate. USF alumni who register before Feb. 15, 2025, can get a 10% discount on the course by using the code NILBoost.                         

– Joey Johnston, ’81