NIL

Nicholls State the latest stop for Latter-day Saint coach – Deseret News

Longtime BYU assistant coach Brent Haring is in his maiden season as a Division I head coach at Louisiana’s Nicholls State University. The Latter-day Saint coach finds strength in his spiritual beliefs. Haring’s baseball coaching resume includes several years as the skipper of the American Samoa National Team. ‘I never had a job. I just […]

Published

1 month ago

May 6, 2025

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Longtime BYU assistant coach Brent Haring is in his maiden season as a Division I head coach at Louisiana’s Nicholls State University.
The Latter-day Saint coach finds strength in his spiritual beliefs.
Haring’s baseball coaching resume includes several years as the skipper of the American Samoa National Team.

‘I never had a job. I just always played baseball.’ — Satchel Paige

It’s no surprise that when the Deseret News recently caught up with longtime college/international baseball coach Brent Haring, he was on a bus loaded with ballplayers, traveling to a road game far from his St. George, Utah, hometown.

A longtime Brigham Young University assistant coach, Haring is wrapping up his first season as head coach at Nicholls State University — a Division I program located along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in southeastern Louisiana.

That’s a long drive from his Washington County neighborhood where Haring grew up smacking whiffle ball backyard dingers with his buddies, competing for the Pine View High Panthers and worshipping in his local Latter-day Saint ward.

But baseball’s a universal language — and the sport has adopted Haring as a world citizen of sorts.

Haring long-ago mastered the baseball coach’s art of snoozing on long flights and lonesome bus rides, always packing light and saving just enough space in your carry-on bag for a broken-in baseball glove.

The stamps filling Haring’s passport reveal his sojourns across the growing baseball globe. Japan. The Dominican Republic. Samoa. Curacao. And then toss in his frequent baseball stops in dozens of U.S. states and American territories such as Guam and American Samoa.

“Being able to see the world through baseball has been a blessing,” observed Haring while navigating a stretch of highway somewhere between Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi.

‘Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.’ — Yogi Berra

It’s no surprise that a guy who played all nine positions as a college player is versatile enough to adapt and embrace teaching and coaching the evolving game across multiple time zones.

Haring played college ball at Colorado Northwestern Junior College and at Southern Virginia University before embarking on a college coaching career that included stops at Harding University in Arkansas, University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, College of the Ozarks in Missouri, his alma mater of SVU — and in his hometown at what was then Dixie State College.

Haring also spent multiple years at BYU — coordinating recruiting, working with Cougar infielders, overseeing team defense prep and, in 2022, serving as the team’s associate head coach.

Then in 2023, Haring was hired as the director of baseball operations at Louisiana State University — one of the premier programs in college baseball. He spent a year in Baton Rouge before accepting his first DI head coaching job at Nicholls State.

BYU head coach Trent Pratt spent more than a decade working in college baseball dugouts with Haring — both at Dixie State and then in Provo.

Pratt’s not surprised his friend has survived and thrived in the grueling, uber-competitive, ever-changing college baseball community.

“Brent’s a people person,” Pratt told the Deseret News. “You’re drawn to him and he’s an honest guy. If you’re that way long enough, it’s going to pay off.”

As a baseball coach, Pratt added, Haring brings calmness to the dugout.

“He’s been around. … Brent’s been around a lot of different coaches and he’s seen a lot of different things. He’s able to take others’ ideas and morph them into his own.”

Most importantly, said Pratt, “Brent treats people the right way. He knows that if you show kids that you love and care for them, they’re going to respond.”

Haring’s maiden campaign as the Colonels’ skipper has been challenging in the baseball-loving Southland Conference. He took over a squad that had qualified for the NCAA regionals in 2024, but then had several players graduate or transfer.

With a record of 16-30, the NSU team could use a bit of luck to qualify for the Southland Conference tournament.

“But it’s been a lot of fun — and a huge challenge,” reported Haring. “We have a long way to go and we’re trying to get there as quickly as we can.”

The Colonels’ manager said being at the helm of a DI baseball team demands “thinking things through a bit more thoroughly and making sure that the decisions I’m making are the right decisions for the program now — and for the future.

“I have an obligation to honor the program and its past.”

And like every other NCAA coach, Haring is tasked with winning games and operating a clean program while managing the new realities of NIL and the transfer portal.

“As a head coach, I’m recruiting my own players all the time,” he said, noting that today’s college baseball scene is “super different” than what he’s experienced across most of his career.

Still, Haring’s pragmatic. He accepts today’s college coaching mantra: “The transfer portal giveth — and it taketh away.”

“You either have to adjust or die,” he said. “We’re trying to adjust and find our niche within the guidelines and how to manage it.”

His tenure on the LSU baseball staff, he added, “has been tremendously beneficial” in the college baseball-crazy corner of the country where he now plies his trade. College sports are simply part of life’s rhythm for Haring’s new neighbors.

“The people in this community love this program,” he said. “It’s not uncommon for our little school to have well over 1,000 fans at our games.”

But Haring said he’s always the same guy — regardless of any particular area’s religious demographics. “My faith is the foundation of everything in my life.”

The lifelong Latter-day Saint added he can trace God’s hand in his professional moves in recent years from Utah to Louisiana.

Haring and his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Tomasi and Nikolao, have also found a welcome landing spot in their new Latter-day Saint congregation.

“They are some of the best people in the world — and I believe Heavenly Father uses us in whatever ways he can. … I’m very grateful for the gospel and what it’s done for me and my life.”

First-year Nicholls State baseball head coach Brent Haring shakes hands with the umpire crew prior to a game during the 2025 season. | Nicholls Athletics

‘I’ve come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.’ — Bob Lemon

Haring regards his 11 years at BYU as pivotal to his ongoing coaching journey.

Lessons he learned in Provo are now serving him well in Thibodaux.

“Coaching at BYU was a dream for me,” he said. “To be able to coach at a university (sponsored) by the religion that I participate in was incredible.

“The school standards, not playing on Sunday, and all those things were incredible.”

The Latter-day Saint population in the Deep South is far different than what he previously enjoyed while coaching in Utah County.

‘Nothing’s ever been as fun as baseball.’ — Mickey Mantle

Haring’s wife, Mary, is of Samoan descent.

That’s a fact without any obvious baseball connection — but almost every detail in Haring’s life has revealed some sort of link to “America’s pastime.”

The Harings marriage has provided the coach with relationships across the Samoan Islands. His father-in-law, who grew up in American Samoa, joked that had he been raised on the U.S. mainland, “he would have played for the Dodgers.”

Meanwhile, Haring long ago committed to learn the Samoan language.

Around 2010, Haring traveled with a group of baseball players to the Samoan Islands to participate in a tournament. It proved to be a prized experience — leading to his hiring as head coach of the American Samoa National Team.

A tiny Pacific island, American Samoa has produced dozens of NFL players. But baseball is still catching on.

Still, Haring enjoyed unexpected success coaching the national team — highlighted in 2019 by an American Samoa victory over Australia, then ranked seventh in the world, and a second-place finish at the Oceania U-18 Baseball Championship in Guam.

Haring believes the baseball ceiling for Samoan athletes knows no limit.

“We’ve seen a fair amount of Samoan kids — and Polynesian kids, in general — that are starting to play more baseball and make their mark.

“It’s been cool to watch that from the grassroots level.”

St. George, Utah, native Brent Haring, second from right, spent several years as the skipper of the American Samoa National Baseball Team. | Courtesy of Brent Haring

‘There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all.’ — Lou Gehrig

Beyond the transfer portals and NIL deals that are redefining college baseball, the sport itself has changed since Haring played sandlot ball until dark in St. George parks with his neighborhood pals.

For a growing number of American kids today, baseball is about highly structured clubs, year-round tournaments and personal trainers. Some worry the game is no longer accessible to would-be players with limited resources.

Haring himself chuckles when telling the story of his 7-year-old son being offered a spot to play in a recent “invitation only” all-star event to showcase the child’s talents.

But despite the disruptions, Haring is high on baseball’s future. He’s confident that the game’s timeless magic will continue to draw kids from St. George, Utah, and Thibodaux, Louisiana — to Pago Pago, American Samoa, and countless climes in-between.

“Major League Baseball is doing a good job of trying to (promote) diversity,” he said. “They have urban youth academies now in a lot of major cities, which helps cover the cost of kids playing.

“I’m glad they’re doing that; we need more of that.”

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NIL

How the NCAA House Ruling Could Reshape UNC Basketball

How the NCAA House Ruling Could Reshape UNC Basketball originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was only recently that North Carolina basketball made headlines for its jaw-dropping $14 million NIL investment. This was a bold, unapologetic declaration that the Tar Heels were all-in on winning in the new era of college athletics. Advertisement Now, the […]

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4 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

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How the NCAA House Ruling Could Reshape UNC Basketball originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

It was only recently that North Carolina basketball made headlines for its jaw-dropping $14 million NIL investment. This was a bold, unapologetic declaration that the Tar Heels were all-in on winning in the new era of college athletics.

Now, the rules have changed.

With the formal approval of the House v. NCAA settlement on Friday night, UNC’s strategy may be headed for a sudden and dramatic shift. The landmark decision not only ends years of litigation over athlete compensation but institutes a new framework that directly impacts how powerhouse programs like North Carolina do business.

At the heart of it: a $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap that schools must now work within to fund all sports. And while outside NIL deals will still be allowed, the days of uncapped internal payouts, like the $14 million reportedly earmarked for Tar Heel hoops are likely numbered.

So what does this mean for Carolina?

First, the math gets tighter. With football still a major university priority under new leadership, including front office veteran Bill Belichick, UNC will need to divvy up its share of the revenue cap carefully. Allocating most of it to men’s basketball risks starving its football program at a time when it’s chasing relevance in a competitive ACC landscape.

Second, scrutiny rises. Under the new model, all NIL deals over $600 must pass through a clearinghouse to ensure they reflect fair market value and serve a legitimate business purpose. That oversight will test the creativity and legality of every booster-backed opportunity.

Still, don’t count UNC out.

The Tar Heels boast a national brand, an NBA pipeline, and a roster of former players turned moguls ready to support current athletes through legitimate NIL opportunities. Those advantages don’t disappear under the House ruling, they just need to be leveraged with precision.

UNC head coach Hubert Davis in discussion with a referee.© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

With a top-15 recruiting class inbound, transfers like 7-foot Arizona product Henri Veesaar, and international guard Luka Bogavac joining the fold, UNC remains a destination. But sustaining that momentum under tighter financial and regulatory conditions will require smarter spending, shrewder deals, and a more integrated athletic department than ever before.

The College Sports Commission, helmed by former MLB executive Bryan Seeley will enforce the new cap and audit programs that exceed it. That means every dollar spent in Chapel Hill now comes with risk.

The Tar Heels helped define college basketball’s past. Whether they can dominate its future will depend not just on their talent—but on their ability to adapt.

Related: Former Top NBA Pick Speaks Out on NIL’s Impact on Culture

Related: EA Sports to Use Pay-for-Play Incentives for College Teams

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.

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NIL

House Settlement COMPLETELY CHANGES College Sports, DESTROYS NCAA and NIL!

The new House Settlement has finally made it legal for universities to pay their players. We explore how it effectively kills the NCAA, NIL and Title IX as well! Author: cbs19.tv Published: 7:01 PM CDT June 8, 2025 Updated: 7:01 PM CDT June 8, 2025 0

Published

54 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

House Settlement COMPLETELY CHANGES College Sports, DESTROYS NCAA and NIL!

The new House Settlement has finally made it legal for universities to pay their players. We explore how it effectively kills the NCAA, NIL and Title IX as well!

NIL

Nebraska athletic director issues statement on historic House Settlement

A federal judge has finally approved a settlement that could change the face of college athletics. Judge Claudia Ann Wilken approved the House Settlement, paving the way for college athletes to be financially compensated for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) directly by their school. A lawsuit was filed by Grant House, a former Arizona […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

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A lawsuit was filed by Grant House, a former Arizona State swimmer, who sued the NCAA and the five biggest athletic conferences in the country. The settlement will now allow schools to directly compensate their student-athletes for their NIL rights. There are nearly 200,000 athletes and 350 schools in Division I alone, and 500,000 and 1,100 schools across the entire NCAA, according to data from the Associated Press.

In the first year under the settlement, schools will be allowed to share up to $20.5 million with their athletes. That number represents 22% of their revenue from sources such as media rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships. Third parties are still permitted to enter into NIL deals with players under this agreement.

Another aspect of the settlement is the $2.7 billion in back pay that will be paid to athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024. Those funds will come from the NCAA and the conferences.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen comments on House Settlement

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Evan Stewart Faces Unexpected NCAA NIL Challenges with Oregon

A New Chapter in College Football The landscape of college football is on the brink of a seismic shift. With the impending implementation of the House vs. NCAA settlement on July 1st, the sport is poised for a major transformation. This agreement aims to bring order to the chaotic world of unregulated Name, Image, and […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

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A New Chapter in College Football

The landscape of college football is on the brink of a seismic shift. With the impending implementation of the House vs. NCAA settlement on July 1st, the sport is poised for a major transformation. This agreement aims to bring order to the chaotic world of unregulated Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which have become a significant part of the collegiate athletic scene. As these changes take root, the impact on players, schools, and the future of college sports is expected to be profound.

The Financial Windfall and Its Complexities

Oregon’s $20.5 million investment in NIL deals was initially seen as a blessing, a strategic move to attract top talent and enhance the school’s competitive edge. However, for athletes like wide receiver Evan Stewart, the reality of these deals is proving to be more complex than anticipated. What once appeared as a golden opportunity is now fraught with challenges, as the new regulations threaten to alter the dynamics of these lucrative agreements.

Evan Stewart: Caught in the Crossfire

Evan Stewart, a promising wide receiver, finds himself at an unexpected crossroads. The changes in NIL regulations could impact his future earnings and career trajectory significantly. Stewart, like many athletes, entered into these agreements with high hopes, envisioning a pathway to financial stability and a flourishing sports career. Yet, the forthcoming regulations may impose constraints that could limit his opportunities and reshape his expectations.

The Broader Implications

The introduction of regulated NIL deals marks a critical juncture for college athletics. While the intention is to create a fairer and more transparent system, the transition is not without its challenges. Schools and athletes must navigate this new terrain carefully, balancing the potential benefits with the inherent risks. The ripple effects of these changes will likely extend beyond individual players, influencing recruitment strategies, team dynamics, and the overall landscape of college sports.

Reflecting on the Future

As the dust settles on this new era, the true impact of the House vs. NCAA settlement will become clearer. For athletes like Evan Stewart, the journey is just beginning, laden with both promise and uncertainty. This pivotal moment in college football history invites reflection on the evolving relationship between education, athletics, and commerce. The road ahead will require adaptability, resilience, and a keen understanding of the shifting sands of collegiate sports.

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LSU baseball lands Kansas State transfer Seth Dardar

BATON ROUGE — LSU baseball’s work in the transfer portal continues. Jay Johnson and the his coaching staff picked up the second commitment out of the transfer portal in Kansas State senior infielder Seth Dardar on Sunday night. Dardar is a Louisiana native from Mandeville, just outside of New Orleans, and after playing one season […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LSU baseball lands Kansas State transfer Seth Dardar

BATON ROUGE — LSU baseball’s work in the transfer portal continues.

Jay Johnson and the his coaching staff picked up the second commitment out of the transfer portal in Kansas State senior infielder Seth Dardar on Sunday night.

Dardar is a Louisiana native from Mandeville, just outside of New Orleans, and after playing one season with the Wildcats, the second baseman in transferring to play his final collegiate season at LSU. He played two seasons at Columbia prior to his stop at K-State.

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“I want to thank the entire Kansas State University and the entire coaching staff for affording me the opportunity to make memories and friendships this year that will last a lifetime,” Dardar said in a statement via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “To the Manhattan community and K-State fanbase, thank you for taking me in and making me feel at home.

“With that being said, I have decided to come home and live out my dream to play at Louisiana State University. Thank you to everyone who was a part my journey that has led me to this position and thank you to coach Johnson, coach (Josh) Jordan and the rest of the LSU staff for giving me the opportunity to live out this dream.”

Dardar hit .326 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs and 39 runs scored this season for the Wildcats. He earned All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention.

Kansas State played LSU this season and Dardar hit a home run against the Tigers.

Dardar is the second infield transfer to announce their commitment to LSU. High Point transfer Brayden Simpson, who played third base.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

NIL

‘Most Powerful NIL Program’ — Analyst Makes Feelings Clear on USC’s Recruiting Edge in 2026 Class

It’s no secret that USC is on fire recruiting in the 2026 cycle. The Trojans have far and away the No. 1 class in both On3 and 247Sports’ rankings and are dominating other powerhouse programs. While USC is a college football blueblood, they aren’t always this dominant, so what is the reason behind the Trojans’ […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s no secret that USC is on fire recruiting in the 2026 cycle. The Trojans have far and away the No. 1 class in both On3 and 247Sports’ rankings and are dominating other powerhouse programs.

While USC is a college football blueblood, they aren’t always this dominant, so what is the reason behind the Trojans’ recent recruiting success?

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College Analyst Dubs USC as the ‘Most Powerful NIL Program’

On3 insider Steve Wiltfong was on JD PicKell’s podcast, “The Hard Count,” where PicKell asked Wiltfong about USC’s recent recruiting success.

Wiltfong explained that no college football program can compete with USC’s NIL funding, saying, “USC is the most powerful NIL program in the country right now, by my estimation, from what I’ve seen on the trial. The opportunities being presented to these coveted targets on and off the field. Programs are struggling to compete with what USC is offering in that sphere.”

Wiltfong went on to explain that not only is USC able to offer these athletes potentially life-changing money, the opportunity to play at an elite program, and the chance to learn from head coach Lincoln Riley and a star-studded staff, but they are also creating a system where they can keep the players who sign.

As Wiltfong states on the podcast, the Trojans have a system put in place in which players who commit to their program are no longer able to visit other schools, which will greatly help USC retain the talent they have in the 2026 class.

PicKell later asked Wiltfong what the change has been at USC from previous years to this year, and Wiltfong gave credit to the recent addition of Chad Bowden as the general manager.

Bowden was Notre Dame’s general manager in 2024 and put together a roster that made the national title game. USC was able to poach Bowden and has now become one of the best recruiting schools in the country.

KEEP READING: 1 Breakout Player for All 136 Teams in the 2025 College Football Season

The Trojans have already signed a whopping 27 commits in the 2026 cycle, including two five-stars and 16 four-stars. Time will tell if the Trojans can maintain this type of recruiting success across several cycles, but as Wiltfong pointed out, no one can compete with USC right now.

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