OU TAPS ALTIUS TO BUILD BEST-IN-CLASS NIL PROGRAM
NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has announced a new partnership with Altius Sports Partners to incorporate the firm's NIL launch platform in developing the school's own unique and comprehensive approach to empower its nearly 600 student-athletes. Altius will employ long-term strategic planning, departmental initiatives and customized educational support advancing all internal and external Sooners stakeholders through the evolving NIL space.Among the key elements of the partnership with Altius are educational workshops for OU student-athletes, coaches and staff centered on marketing, branding, financial literacy and recruiting, among other important factors of NIL. Additionally, services from Altius will include enhancement of departmental initiatives, engagement with internal and external constituents on NIL, tapping into OU's deep roster of alumni who have gone on to compete across professional sports and the Olympics, as well as capitalizing on other important industry developments to help OU stay ahead of the curve."
"Our commitment to the overall student-athlete experience at Oklahoma includes leveraging NIL opportunities, and teaming with Altius underscores that commitment," said OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "Altius supports several preeminent schools, and we are excited to utilize the company's expertise and resources to help us establish the best and most comprehensive strategy to keep us positioned for success in this space."
An official partner of leading collegiate athletic departments and sports properties, Altius specializes in developing and managing programs around crucial issues related to NIL. Through its expertise, wide range of services and intellectual resources, the firm's approach includes developing strategic vision and cohesive planning to help stakeholders navigate structural change and build sustained success across the collegiate landscape.
"Oklahoma has a long-standing tradition of excellence and achievement across its many athletics programs," said Andrew Donovan, Altius Vice President of Collegiate Partnerships. "We are thrilled to lock arms with the Sooners to develop and implement a long-term strategy that meets and exceeds the Oklahoma standard and positions all OU stakeholders for success in the new era of collegiate athletics."
The partnership with Altius represents the latest effort by OU Athletics in the ever-evolving NIL space. In December 2021, OU launched OU Exchange, a free service to student-athletes and businesses which allows NIL transactions.
The University of Oklahoma is a destination where excellence is the norm – in both athletics competition and the classroom. The Sooners have claimed 39 national championships and are riding a streak of seven consecutive years with at least one team national title (excluding the COVID-canceled spring 2020 season). The school has also produced 10 Big 12 Male or Female Athletes of the Year over the last nine years. The Learfield IMG College Director's Cup recognizes overall program excellence in intercollegiate athletics departments. Evidence of OU's commitment to success is 18 top-25 finishes in the last 23 years. During the fall 2022 semester, OU student-athletes posted a 3.19 cumulative GPA, tying the school-record figure they set in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. It marked a school-record 20th consecutive semester of a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Supported by operational leadership and a best-in-class client services team, the Altius cross-disciplinary network of partners and advisory team members includes:
- John Entz, 14-time Emmy winner and former President of Production at Fox Sports, SVP at MLB Network and producer at ESPN.
- Gabe Feldman, Director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance and Co-Director of Tulane Center for Sport.
- Renie Anderson, CRO and EVP, Partnerships at the NFL.
- David Carter, Executive Director of the USC Sports Business Institute, and a professor of sports business at USC's Marshall School of Business.
- Jené Elzie, former Pac-12 athlete and current Chief Growth Officer for Athletes First Partners, sister company of Athletes First, the nation's largest NFL talent agency.
- Oliver Luck, sports business leader and former Commissioner of the XFL, EVP for Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships for the NCAA, and Athletic Director at West Virginia.
- Michael O'Hara Lynch, former global head of sponsorship marketing at Visa, Inc. and global head of consulting at Nielson Sports, currently partner in 3 Emerald Marketing.
- Jessica Mendoza, former Pac-12 athlete and Olympic gold medalist is a broadcaster for ESPN.
- Kenneth Shropshire, CEO of the Global Sport Institute, and professor at Arizona State.
- Malcolm Turner, sports business executive and former Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director at Vanderbilt and President of the NBA G League.
About Altius Sports Partners
Altius is a leading firm that delivers consulting, strategic planning, compliance support and education to its clients. An official partner of leading collegiate athletic departments and sports properties, Altius provides strategic solutions on topics ranging from NIL to the shifting landscape of employment and media rights within college athletics. The firm currently represents athletics departments at Arizona, Duke, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Mississippi State, Northwestern, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, South Carolina, USC, Tennessee, Texas, Villanova, Virginia, and Washington. The firm has also partnered with Women Leaders in College Sports. Providing all stakeholders – athletics departments, coaches, and college athletes – with resources they need to thrive in the new age of college athletics, Altius leverages its deep reservoir of sports business sophistication to help those impacted to prepare and excel. We have built a team of cross-disciplinary leaders to reach higher levels of education, higher access to opportunities and higher standards of excellence.
