Building a legacy
Building a legacy
UNI finds success in a changing landscape of collegiate athletics
The world of collegiate athletics has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with changes ranging from Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes to shifts in revenue generation and compliance practices. At UNI, these changes have been met with innovative strategies and a commitment to enhancing both student-athlete experiences and community engagement in what Director of Athletics Megan Franklin calls The Legacy Era.
“The Legacy Era uplifts the people of the department in every aspect of what we are called to do,” Franklin said. “My expectation is when historians look back at The Legacy Era they will see that individuals who competed and worked at UNI Athletics thrived under a leadership of love and appreciation, that alumni, donors and fans had a blast when they were in our venue cheering on the Panthers, and that the funds they gave were stewarded in a strategic way that was league leading and had an outcome of winning.”
Revenue generation in college athletics
Scott Peace, UNI’s senior associate athletic director for revenue generation, explained the multifaceted approach the university takes to fund its athletic programs.
“As you can imagine, there are many revenue sources for an athletics department like UNI,” Peace said. “These include ticketing, fundraising, sponsorships, licensing and concessions. Some of these revenue sources are handled completely in-house, while others — such as ticketing, sponsorships and licensing — engage outside vendors in partnership with UNI.”
Unlike the Big10, SEC, ACC and Big 12 that benefit from multimillion-dollar media rights deals, UNI Athletics revenue stems from traditional sources. The Missouri Valley Conference’s platform on ESPN+ provides an accessible way for fans to follow games, but it doesn’t bring in the kind of revenue that has fueled conference realignment among Power Four schools.
“Attending games is critical to generating revenue at UNI,” Peace said. “This impacts ticket sales, concessions and our Panther Scholarship Club, where many season tickets require a seat donation. More fans at games also increase the value of our sponsorship inventory and royalty income from licensed merchandise.”
To boost ticket sales and fan engagement, UNI has prioritized enhancing the in-game experience.
“It’s our responsibility to enhance the fan experience and give our fans a reason to attend,” said Peace. “Listening to our fans, trying new things, and continuing to strive for improvement in this area are all at the forefront of our efforts in year one of The Legacy Era and beyond.”
It’s our responsibility to enhance the fan experience and give our fans a reason to attend. Listening to our fans, trying new things, and continuing to strive for improvement in this area are all at the forefront of our efforts in year one of The Legacy Era and beyond.
NIL: Opportunities and Challenges
The introduction of Name, Image and Likeness — known as NIL — has been one of the most transformative changes in college athletics. It allows student-athletes to use their name, image, and likeness for personal gain within institutional and state policy. From running their own camps to partnering with local businesses, the possibilities are endless.
UNI has supported its athletes with resources ranging from financial and budget resources and social media education to branding workshops.
“We tell our athletes to think creatively and put in the work to gain any deals they may be offered,” said Ben Messerli, UNI’s associate athletics director for compliance and sport administration.
UNI athletes have embraced NIL opportunities in innovative ways. Messerli highlights the football team’s offensive line, which partnered with local restaurants to receive free meals while promoting the businesses on social media. “This type of activity is what NIL was created for – supporting both student-athletes and local businesses. We emphasize the Cedar Valley’s support during recruitment,” Messerli said. “NIL opportunities not only benefit our student-athletes but also help local businesses thrive.”
The NCAA Transfer Portal has become a transformative partner to NIL in shaping college athletics.
“With the ability to transfer unlimitedly, provided they meet academic requirements, student-athlete movement has significantly increased,” Messerli said, noting that athletes may transfer to not only find a better fit but also seek increased playing time or financial opportunities.
While this increased mobility has become the norm, UNI has embraced the portal’s potential to strengthen its programs. “Our coaches and departmental staff have done a great job understanding how transfers and NIL can benefit the department and each team’s roster management,” said Messerli. “We still want recruits to come and stay for their entire career and earn a UNI degree. We also need to embrace the transfer portal as a tool for adding the right athletes for our programs.”
Supporting student-athletes
At UNI, one of the “pillars” of The Legacy Era is student support — investing in the success and well-being of student-athletes through numerous resources, including culture.
“UNI student-athletes will know they can grow and learn in a supportive environment predicated on them being their whole, best, complete self,” said Franklin. “Winning happens when student-athletes know they can learn to lead on the court through coaching focused on their growth and opportunity to develop in ways they never dreamed in an environment where they are honored and respected.”
While scholarship support is a major component, it’s just one of many ways UNI and other universities provide for their athletes.
“Resources that aren’t quantified in specific dollar amounts include all athletic training resources, medical care for all student-athletes, NCAA Student Assistant Fund money, tutoring resources for all student-athletes and Alston educational benefits the NCAA allows,” said Messerli.
Donor contributions play an indispensable role in UNI Athletics. From scholarships to facilities to team operations, the generosity of alumni and friends is crucial to providing a first-class experience for Panther student-athletes.
“We are committed to being donor-centric,” says Peace. “What I mean by that is, we want to make sure we are connecting the passions and interests of our donors with projects and initiatives that make sense. There are so many ways to support our programs and student-athletes — all of which are critical to our success and the experience we are able to provide. Our Panther Scholarship Club provides opportunities for our student-athletes to excel in and out of the classroom, our facility projects impact decades of future Panther student-athletes and coaching staffs by providing the best possible training and competition venues, and The Panther Collective allows us to recruit and retain high-level student-athletes.
“UNI Athletics is poised to emerge as a leader in sport in the next 150 years because of the strategic work we are doing today.”
– Megan Franklin, UNI Director of Athletics
How to support
student-athletes
Panther Scholarship Club
The Panther Scholarship Club serves as the fundraising arm for UNI Athletics. The PSC builds on a rich tradition by providing opportunities for UNI student-athletes to excel in and out of the classroom. Membership in the Panther Scholarship Club is the most fundamental way that Panther fans can directly impact UNI student-athletes.
Support Our Teams
Support team funds by giving directly to your favorite sports. Likewise, you can fuel the strategic vision of Panther Athletics through the Athletic Director's VIP Fund.
The Panther Collective
The Panther Collective is the only collective working with UNI student-athletes. Student-athletes are involved in the collective contributing their time and talents through work with nonprofits, being active in our communities, and providing mentorship to future generations. Learn more at thepanthercollective.com.
Buy UNI merchandise
Ever purchase Panther apparel at athletic events or your favorite local retailer? UNI receives royalties for the sale of all licensed goods. A portion of each officially-licensed piece of UNI apparel helps Panther athletics. When you purchase your purple and gold, you’re helping UNI!
