“I look at the NIL space as a challenge.” Dawn Staley, the esteemed head coach, has openly stated that while NIL presents a significant advantage for college athletes, she views it as more of a challenge. Since the ban on NIL was lifted in 2021, college stars, including WNBA reigning ROTY Caitlin Clark, have seen a considerable rise in both their earnings and popularity. The topic of NIL has sparked ongoing debate, and now Iowa’s head coach, Jan Jensen, has shared how these changes have presented her program with the challenge of stepping up in the new landscape.

The Iowa head coach Jan Jensen recently appeared on Chris Mailander’s podcast, discussing the impact of NIL. She highlighted how Caitlin Clark and other athletes gained opportunities to collaborate with major brands like Nike and Gatorade, even appearing on ESPN during their college years after the change. However, Jensen also shared how these developments presented a tough decision for those in coaching to stay in their roles.

“All the things that players used to do for free….. now they were being able to be paid through the collectives for the public appearance. So at first, it was like ‘what?’ Well then we decided, we were sitting right here and we said ‘We either get on, we got to get on board or we’re out,’ because you can’t go into a home and sing the virtues of you know 2000. Now everybody’s like dollar signs on top of wanting to go to a program. What can that mean for me on top of it? Because that’s the rules, so we just leaned in and embraced it,” stated Jensen. 

When the NIL ban was lifted, it opened the door to a whole new world of opportunities for athletes, and Caitlin Clark was quick to capitalize. By her college days, she had already reached an impressive $3.2 million NIL valuation. As athletes gained fame and financial success, the spotlight also shifted to coaches. With the increased popularity of players like Clark, the pressure on coaches grew—not just to manage talent, but to elevate the game and improve the overall performance of their teams.

Jensen earlier explained, “Imagine Caitlin without the ability to get Gatorade and Nike. So anyway when that happened in NIL, Lisa and I had the same reaction that everybody else did. ‘What are you kidding me? A college scholarship!’ I mean these kids were flying around. We’re on ESPN, we’re taking charter flights and and you know because it was the collectives it wasn’t necessarily the NIL.” 

Well, she’s not the only one weighing in on this hot-button issue. South Carolina’s legendary head coach, Dawn Staley, has also shared her perspective, highlighting an interesting angle.

Dawn Staley’s competitive approach to NIL

The 3x national champion coach shared her approach to leveraging NIL funding to attract top-tier recruits and maintain a competitive edge each season. “I see the NIL space as a challenge. We might not have the most [NIL deals], but I strive to stay competitive,” Staley remarked. The coach emphasized South Carolina’s commitment to developing players into future stars. She assured that those who join her program will not only grow their skills on the court but also position themselves to secure well-deserved NIL deals.

“I want to be competitive when it comes to recruiting young people. I don’t want that [NIL deals] to be the factor. If someone beats us out by $25,000 or $50,000, I don’t want that to be the determining factor. But I will say the things that we equip our players with, it will more than bring in the money that they deserve,” she had explained.

Staley acknowledged that she’s at peace if a potential recruit decides to explore opportunities elsewhere. However, she highlighted that by doing so, the player would miss out on the invaluable experience and lessons that come with being part of a championship-caliber program like South Carolina.

In the evolving landscape of college sports, NIL has undeniably reshaped the game for athletes and coaches alike. While it presents challenges, leaders like Dawn Staley and Jan Jensen prove that adapting with integrity and vision can drive success both on and off the court.