While surely rewarding at times, the college coaching profession has become tougher than ever before. A team’s performance (read: wins/losses) and therefore a coach’s tenure likely depends on 17-22 year olds getting the job done- in competition, in the classroom, in the brutal, digital, asocial world that far too many must confront, and in the world at large.
A good coach mentors, provides a home away from home, even acts as a surrogate parent; but now, throw in the variable of the wild, wild west known as NIL (name, image, likeness). College athletes now make their own personal deals with outside third parties for usage of their name, image, and/or likeness, and the school is simply informed that that such a deal exists; the laws on what else must be disclosed varies from state to state.
And if a college athlete has a great season, new transfer rules (via the “portal”) allow said athlete to simply leave for theoretically greener pastures elsewhere… anywhere- no harm, no foul. Coaches moved around easily for decades, leaving behind kids who swore allegiance to a school partially or even primarily based on that coach/mentor; now it’s student-athletes who have the leverage in deciding where they want to be.
Already we see athletes play for/attend four different schools in four or five years.
Old rules allowed a student to transfer once during his/her collegiate eligibility, and possibly sit out one year before playing at a second Division I school. Transfer penalty? Not any longer.
Why am I writing about this in mid-December? Well, for many student-athletes, the new NIL and transfer portal rules are a Christmas gift with the potential to keep on giving. But for college coaches, this new world might make them seem Grinch-like. You build up great rapport, help a kid reach new heights as the team (often) succeeds, and then watch as players opt for the transfer portal, seeking greater NIL funds and more exposure for a fledgling pro career, perhaps, while you, the coach, much seek replacements… annually… forevermore. Team uniforms should display “Hi, my name is…” stickers for fans every year.
Surely, the interim NIL and portal rules will be tweaked and updated to reflect the insanity of what’s happening… just like the recent re-alignment in major conferences is destined to see change, once again, in the years to come. Crazy times in big-time college athletics, for sure.
Think about it…