Monmouth University recently announced plans to hire a Senior Associate Athletic Director for Annual Giving, NIL, and Revenue Generation. The goal is to strengthen fundraising, connect with alumni and donors, and ensure student athletes have the resources they need to succeed. With new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules and growing competition between schools, this position could play a key role in shaping the future of Monmouth Athletics. The editors at The Outlook weighed in on if Monmouth can keep up with household name institutions and whether this new position at Monmouth Athletics will help student athletes.
One editor said, “I think this position is an overall positive for student athletes. NIL is brand new for a lot of people, including the people that benefit from it. Having someone provide a little guidance can be a big help for Monmouth’s athletes.”
Another editor agreed that this director position could be positive, “I think it could potentially but student athletes have a lot of resources already. What could this new position possibly offer that other ones already don’t.”
One editor is optimistic, but cautious about this new position, “… it’s not a bad thing if they focus on staying balanced. If the new position helps secure funding for better facilities, academic support, and opportunities, that’s a net positive. The danger is that fundraising overshadows the actual college experience.”
Almost unanimously, the editors believe that Monmouth cannot keep up with larger schools with greater resources. “Monmouth simply doesn’t have the funds. We are a small school and don’t compare to giants like Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas,” one editor said.
“I don’t think Monmouth can keep up with other bigger name programs and athletic directions. Monmouth is still a relatively new athletic school if you compare it to the legacy of those like Michigan and Rutgers. Those schools are founded on years of legacy and tradition while MU still has ways ahead,” said another.
One editor agreed, especially in regard to the recognition schools of a larger student population get. “I think that these financial benefits will help athletic students and it will bring promotion to our already-budding sports programs, but I think that we will never be able to reach the level of recognition that Big Ten schools like Rutgers [have].”
One editor believes that what Monmouth may lack in finances, is made up for in other ways. “Not financially, but Monmouth can still be competitive. What the school lacks in money can be made up for in the community, whether that’s through alumni networks or local sponsorships.”
Some editors think that the shift in collegiate athletics focusing heavily on money will shift the traditional experience of student athletes attending college. Referencing money, one editor said, “In fact, it might be the thing students focus on the most. We see stud players from smaller schools transfer to bigger schools all the time. Why is that? Money.”
