Conference commissioners bullish on enforcing new NIL rules
Days after a multibillion-dollar legal settlement changed college athletics by allowing schools to directly pay their athletes, the most powerful conference commissioners are bullish in their ability to enforce NIL rules in a new system, even though specific punishments remain unclear. Hours after the House v. NCAA settlement was approved on Friday, former MLB executive […]
Days after a multibillion-dollar legal settlement changed college athletics by allowing schools to directly pay their athletes, the most powerful conference commissioners are bullish in their ability to enforce NIL rules in a new system, even though specific punishments remain unclear.
Hours after the House v. NCAA settlement was approved on Friday, former MLB executive Bryan Seeley was named CEO of a new enforcement organization called the College Sports Commission. His job will be to lead the team responsible for enforcement of the new rules around revenue sharing, third-party payments to players for NIL deals, and roster limits.
One of the biggest questions, though, is what happens when those rules are broken?
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, who spoke Monday on a Zoom press conference with fellow commissioners Greg Sankey (SEC), Tony Petitti (Big Ten), Brett Yormark (Big 12) and Teresa Gould (Pac-12), said they’ve all had ideas, but nothing they’re “ready to come forward with.” Ultimately, Phillips said, the rules and boundaries will be under Seeley’s purview.
“We’re in the process of developing some of those rules and structure and overall implementation of that,” Phillips said. “Now that we have Bryan on board, I think we’ll be able to move a little bit quicker. But we want to get this right. It’s one of those areas that until you have somebody leading the College Sports Commission, it’s difficult to get together with that individual and start some of that framework that will be in place.”
Yormark called it “progress over perfection,” and said that while there will be challenges, they will meet them over time.
“Our schools want rules, and we’re providing rules, and we will be governed by those rules,” Yormark said, “and if you break those rules, the ramifications will be punitive.”
The annual cap is expected to start at $20.5 million per school in 2025-26 and increase every year during the decade-long deal. Those payments will be in addition to scholarships and other benefits the athletes already receive. Starting June 7, players have to report NIL deals of $600 or more to the College Sports Commission.
LBi Software and accounting firm Deloitte will monitor salary cap management and the NIL clearinghouse, an online platform called NIL Go. Those NIL deals will be outside of the revenue directly shared by schools, and will be vetted to determine if they are for a valid business purpose – not recruiting.
Sankey met with his head coaches in football and men’s and women’s basketball this past February, and said he has asked the same question at every level – including up to the university presidents.
“If you want an unregulated, open system, just raise your hand and let me know,” Sankey said. “And universally, the answer is ‘no. We want oversight. We want guardrails. We want structure.’ Those individuals don’t have the luxury to just say that in meeting rooms, period. They don’t have the luxury to just be anonymous sources. They have a responsibility to make what they’ve sought – what they’ve asked for – to make it work.”
The commissioners agreed, though, that in order to “make it work,” they need Congressional help. Sankey, who said he played golf recently with President Donald Trump and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, continued to stress the need for an “effort to preempt state laws.”
“Congress exists to set national standards, and we’re not going to have Final Fours and College Football Playoffs and College World Series with 50 different standards,” Sankey said. “Codification of at least settlement terms or around settlement terms would be enormously healthy.”
Sankey said he has always “appreciated [Trump’s] interest in college sports,” and while it was “helpful for me and Pete as well to hear his thoughts and his perspectives, and to share some of ours,” he said those are “best left for the moment on the golf course.”
Even with a multitude of questions still looming, Phillips said college athletics is in a “much better place” than it was 48 hours ago, before the settlement was approved.
“What’s not debatable is that this new model does bring stability and fairness to student-athletes in college sports,” Phillips said, “and we’ve been in an unregulated environment with no rules and no enforcement. It has paralyzed the NCAA in Indianapolis, and we’re responsible for certainly some of that. We’re now going to have a foundation and structure laying out those rules. The new structure provides our student-athletes with more opportunities and benefits than ever before.”
Clarke Returns to Adrian as Assistant Coach of NCAA Men’s Hockey
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ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College head men’s NCAA hockey coach Adam Phillips has announced the hiring of Carter Clarke as the Bulldogs’ new assistant coach. Clarke returns to Adrian after spending last season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. “I’m thrilled to welcome Carter back to our […]
ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College head men’s NCAA hockey coach Adam Phillips has announced the hiring of Carter Clarke as the Bulldogs’ new assistant coach. Clarke returns to Adrian after spending last season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Carter back to our program,” Phillips said. “He brings a sharp hockey mind, a winning track record and he will be a tremendous asset to our players and program. I can’t wait to have him on board and get going!”
Clarke began his coaching career at Adrian College, serving as Director of Hockey Operations for the NCAA men’s hockey program from 2019 to 2024. During his tenure, the Bulldogs captured five conference championships, three Harris Cup Championships, three trips to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four, and the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championship. He later became head coach of Adrian’s ACHA Women’s Division I team, leading them to the program’s first-ever national championship with a 30-6-2 record.
In 2024-25, Clarke joined UW-Stout, where the team finished 12-13-2. Under his guidance, the Blue Devils secured victories over several ranked opponents, including No. 14 UW-River Falls, No. 2 St. Norbert, and RV Gustavus Adolphus, and earned a tie against No. 13 UW-Stevens Point.
Clarke will begin his new role immediately, helping the Bulldogs prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
How Big Ten standout Sam Phillips champions LGBTQ+ visibility in college gymnastics
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Illinois gymnast Sam Phillips has created an army. As an openly queer student-athlete, the All-American gymnast often would look around in rooms and see no one else like him. “Always being the only one in these spaces sometimes and having to fight these battles alone, (I remember thinking,) ‘This is […]
Illinois gymnast Sam Phillips has created an army.
As an openly queer student-athlete, the All-American gymnast often would look around in rooms and see no one else like him.
“Always being the only one in these spaces sometimes and having to fight these battles alone, (I remember thinking,) ‘This is the army’ — all the people past, present and future who are watching and hearing the message and are going to be that change and lead with inclusive love,” he said.
The gymnast’s ultimate goal: To use his platform as an elite student-athlete to be the representation he wishes he had growing up.
“I wish I grew up seeing out queer gymnasts own themselves, own who they are while doing all these amazing things,” he said. “I think being SAAC president, an All-American, a team captain while being open and unconditionally myself is just being the role model I wish I had.”
One member of his army was an Illinois alumnus who emailed Phillips.
“I graduated in the ’80s, and I didn’t come out until three years ago. I’m rooting for you, and I’ve gotta say, I’m proud of you for how you’re leading with inclusion and being yourself. I wish I would have done that,” the message said.
Another time, Phillips met a Nebraska student-athlete who told him that she came out to her parents after seeing his social media page. Other times, he will have young kids direct message him on Instagram to thank him for showing them the way.
“It just affirms that, yes, this is needed,” Phillips reflected.
Yet long before Phillips leapt into using his student-athlete experience as a platform for activism, sport simply provided him with a place to be himself.
As he attended various practices for his older brothers, Connor and Ellis, he spent the time on the sidelines with the other siblings, doing cartwheels, flips and tumbles.
When his parents decided he needed a sport of his own, gymnastics became an obvious sport for the energetic and athletic kid. At 5 years old, Phillips began “Mommy and Me” gymnastics classes, which led him to compete in a local gym. Each year, he leveled up, moving from gym to gym until he ended up at a regional gym.
“I loved the variety in it. Every day, I got to do something fun and new,” he said.
At the gym, competing and practicing with his friends, Phillips relished the family environment.
“It became a second home for me, a safe space that allowed me to get all of my energy out in a safe environment,” he said. “It allowed me to be myself.”
Phillips reflects on these early years as his foundation of his sense of self.
“Every queer person from a young age is like, ‘OK, something’s different about me.’ Looking back on it, I just subconsciously knew that I could let my guard down more in the gym and just be a little bit more myself and express myself through gymnastics.”
The physicality of the sport would center Phillips, and he often found himself drawn to the sport during emotional moments. The older and more skilled he became, the more he began to customize his routines.
As he began his collegiate career at Nebraska in 2020, the ability to use his creativity fueled his success.
“I’m a very expressive, sort of theatrical person,” he said. “I’ve built a lot of my reputation in gymnastics on my creativity and my self-expression.”
For Phillips, this might look like adding turns, leaps, jumps and rolls into his floor transitions. Skills uncommon for male gymnasts are some of his favorite moves.
Typically, there are three things that inspire Phillips’ routines. One, his current media fixation. Right now, the journeys of Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones” and the Scarlet Witch, two power female icons with literal magic, have given him ideas for his routines. Second, his theme of the year, whether it’s a word of affirmation or a yearlong goal. Third, his spirituality.
“What inspires me in creating a routine is how I’m feeling and what skills align with my spirit. I’m a spiritual gymnast,” he said. “This is who I am as a person, and I’m going to show it to you within my gymnastics. I just love, love, love that about the sport.”
“Watch a Sam Phillips high bar routine and you will see his personality,” said Daniel Ribeiro, his head coach at Illinois, where Phillips transferred after the 2024 season. “He has high-flying, powerful release moves. Refined skills that need to hit perfect handstands. And a dismount with more flips and twists than you can count. Finishing off with the best celebrations in all of gymnastics.”
For Phillips, the evolution of his routines symbolizes different eras in his life. His routines have paralleled coming into himself, too. Phillips has been out to his team since his freshman year at Nebraska, but throughout college, he has continued to evolve in his activism and involvement with the LGBTQ+ community.
At first, his activism began by having to have difficult discussions when a joke crossed a line or answering questions from people who had not met a queer black person before. Then, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter marches in 2020, he wrote a speech for a rally, marking his first experience with public advocacy.
After his speech, Phillips helped create a Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Group on Nebraska’s campus. Around that time, he joined Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, eventually becoming president. That led to him attending the Athlete Ally Summit the following year, where he met three Nebraska female student-athletes in the LGBTQ+ community.
“That was my first sense of community within the queer community, and it felt so good because we talked about the struggles we face and the silent battles every day,” he said.
The four created Nebraska’s first-ever LGBTQ+ affinity group for student-athletes, and Phillips became president. They held meetings, hosted lunch and learns and created a student-athlete formal to give people a safe space to have fun.
“Sam has a natural ability to be a positive influence in any environment, and his advocacy work is no different,” said former Nebraska teammate Jake Bonnay. “Whether he’s mentoring younger athletes, advocating for better support systems or speaking out for issues that matter to him, Sam consistently demonstrates that he’s not afraid to use his voice to make a difference. His advocacy work reflects the same qualities that made him a great teammate — his sincerity, focus and commitment to making a meaningful impact.”
Phillips also began speaking at summits, including the NIL Summit and the Athlete Activism Summit. He has steadily increased his following on social media, too, garnering more than 13,000 followers on Instagram.
Phillips has used name, image and likeness to help him with his career goals: “It’s helped me express my creativity. I want to be an entertainer, like an actor, director, producer, so it’s helped me with that avenue of having a portfolio, modeling and expressing a vision for a campaign.”
As a gymnast, he has thrived, earning All-America, All Big Ten and College Gymnastics Association All-America Scholar Athlete honors at Nebraska before transferring in his graduate year to Illinois.
“His transition from Nebraska to Illinois is just another chapter in his journey, and I have no doubt that he will continue to inspire and lead in every environment he enters,” Bonnay said. “He’s the kind of person you want on your team. He’s humble, hardworking and deeply committed to both his personal development and the success of those around him.”
Now, in his final year of collegiate gymnastics at Illinois, Phillips will look to raise the bar for himself one last time, as an athlete and an advocate.
“When you know who you are and you’re being yourself, it’s going to happen,” Phillips said. “It’s not a coincidence. You’re not stressed, you’re not thinking about anything else, you’re not hiding anything.”
“When you’re watching me, if you’re rooting for my gymnastics, you’re rooting for queer gymnastics, full stop, period. Because that’s who I am.”
Watertown Lakers Announce New Leadership for Boys and Girls Varsity Hockey Teams | Local News
{KXLG – Watertown, SD} The Watertown Lakers hockey program has officially announced its new Varsity Head Coaches for the upcoming season, with Mason Llyod stepping in to lead the Boys Varsity team and Stephen Vannelli taking charge of the Girls Varsity program. Mason Llyod, a Watertown native, brings a deep connection to the Lakers organization, […]
{KXLG – Watertown, SD} The Watertown Lakers hockey program has officially announced its new Varsity Head Coaches for the upcoming season, with Mason Llyod stepping in to lead the Boys Varsity team and Stephen Vannelli taking charge of the Girls Varsity program.
Mason Llyod, a Watertown native, brings a deep connection to the Lakers organization, having grown up playing hockey for the team. A graduate of Watertown High School, Lloyd went on to play football for Dakota State University. His coaching journey began during his time at Dakota State, where he assisted as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, solidifying his passion for coaching. After earning a degree in computer science, Lloyd returned to Watertown and now co-owns and operates Pelican Powersports. He served as the assistant boys’ varsity coach for the Watertown Lakers during the 2024-2025 season before being appointed to his new head coaching role.
Stephen Vannelli, originally from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, will lead the Girls Varsity team. Vannelli’s lifelong passion for hockey began at the outdoor rinks in Minnesota. He brings extensive coaching experience across multiple levels, working with both boys’ and girls’ programs. Known for his “player-first philosophy,” Coach Vannelli emphasizes not only fundamental skills but also the importance of leadership, teamwork, and character in developing a strong team culture. He aims to foster a “positive, collaborative and competitive environment” for his athletes. Vannelli and his wife, Anna (a Raymond, South Dakota native), have been married for 20 years and have six children. He will continue his role with South Dakota-based Daktronics while coaching the Lakers.
The Watertown Lakers organization expressed enthusiasm for both appointments. It anticipates that Lloyd and Vannelli will bring significant energy, experience, and leadership to their respective programs, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Women’s Ice Hockey Welcomes Nine New Faces Ahead of Head Coach Justin Simpson’s First Season
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NORTHFIELD, Vt. – First-year Head Coach Justin Simpson of the Norwich University women’s ice hockey team unveiled his first recruiting class Wednesday afternoon. Included in the nine new additions are four forwards, four blueliners, and a netminder, including two transfers from Division I. “Our coaching staff is thrilled and proud to […]
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – First-year Head Coach Justin Simpson of the Norwich University women’s ice hockey team unveiled his first recruiting class Wednesday afternoon. Included in the nine new additions are four forwards, four blueliners, and a netminder, including two transfers from Division I.
“Our coaching staff is thrilled and proud to announce the incoming women’s hockey class of 2025,” Simpson said. “This class of nine is a very diverse group, having played for nine different teams and each coming from a different state or region. Our program has consistently recruited nationally and internationally to find student-athletes who love Norwich and who can enhance our team’s play. This class is no different, and they will be joining a dynamic group of women both on and off the ice. Our staff is excited to integrate this class with our returning players and to start building towards a successful season in both the Little East Conference and in our non-conference schedule.”
#2 Geena Cookingham
Position: Forward
Hometown: Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H.
Previous Team: Lawrence Academy
Earned honors as All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention with Lawrence Academy last season.
Cookingham: “I chose Norwich because I loved the location and the small community! I also like the team and the competitive atmosphere.”
#3 Ellin Rees
Position: Defense
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
Previous Team: Newark Ironbound
Played in the IIHF World Championships and Olympic Qualifying tournament last season for Team Great Britain while also tallying 31 points in 43 games from the backend for the Ironbound.
Rees: “I chose to attend Norwich for the great range of academic opportunities, including Exercise Science, which I want to study. I also chose Norwich for its competitive and strong program. These both enable me to further my development as a student and an athlete.”
#6 Natalie Heutmaker
Position: Forward
Hometown: Eagan, Minn.
Previous Team: Eagan High School
While playing both forward and defense, Heutmaker earned South Suburban Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention in her senior campaign, posting eleven points from the back end.
Heutmaker: “I chose Norwich because of the location and the opportunities available.”
#7 Maggie Hunter
Position: Defense
Hometown: Royal Oak, Mich.
Previous Team: Little Caesars
In addition to patrolling the blueline for Little Caesars, Hunter also earned Third-Team All-State recognition in lacrosse.
Hunter: “I chose Norwich because the environment on my visit felt super welcoming! The campus is situated in a beautiful area, and the facilities were fantastic.”
#8 Molly Walsh
Position: Defense
Hometown: Simsbury, Conn.
Previous Team: Assumption University
During her two years at Assumption, Walsh played 44 career games, spending time as both a forward and a defenseman.
Walsh: “I chose Norwich because I wanted to be surrounded by a community that always strives for improvement and is dedicated to achieving high goals.”
#12 Dani Ammons
Position: Defense
Hometown: Centennial, Colo.
Previous Team: Post University
In two years patrolling the blueline for Post, Ammons posted 10 points in 74 career contests along with 89 shots and 75 blocks.
Ammons: “I chose to attend Norwich because of the high standard of athletics and academic standards. I also really enjoyed the welcoming culture from both the hockey team and the school.”
#17 Penny Saich
Position: Forward
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
Previous Team: Boston Advantage
In an article from wickedlocal.com, Saich’s high school coach said: “Penny is such a team-oriented player and always wants what’s best for the team. Not only does she possess considerable hockey skills, but she also finds ways to utilize them to improve her teammates’ play. Penny wants to be on a competitive team, and she brings that desire with her any time she is on the ice.”
Saich: “When I got to campus, I immediately fell in love with it, it’s not like all the other colleges with military/ROTC programs, everyone is super nice and helpful, great sports teams, has an amazing reputation, and is known for mechanical engineering.”
#50 Dana Rigan
Position: Goaltender
Hometown: Lindenhurst, Ill.
Previous Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s
Played the majority of Shattuck St. Mary’s games her senior year, amassing a 20-4-7 record with a 2.00 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Sister Tara is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Rigan: “I chose to attend Norwich because it offers the ideal environment for me to thrive both athletically and academically, while being part of a disciplined and supportive campus culture rooted in tradition. It felt like the perfect place to challenge myself, grow as a student-athlete, and take pride in being part of something greater than just university.”
#98 Madalyn Liles
Position: Forward
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Previous Team: Dallas Stars Elite
Posted 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 22 games with the Dallas Stars Elite 19U squad, adding two goals in three playoff contests.
Liles: “I felt [Norwich] was an all-around good fit for me with the small campus feeling, the great academic program they offer for Exercise Science, with a competitive hockey program.”
These nine new faces will take the ice for the first time in maroon and gold when the Cadets travel to Suffolk on Oct. 18 for their first exhibition contest. They will open the regular season on Oct. 31 at Plattsburgh State before their Little East Conference (LEC) opener at home against Vermont State University Castleton on Nov. 7.
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Bluejay Soccer Programs Announce 2025 Fall Scrimmages
HILLSBORO, Kan. (TaborBluejays.com) – As the summer continues to roll on, the Tabor College Men’s and Women’s Soccer programs have released their slate of preseason scrimmages for the fall of 2025. Bluejay Women’s Soccer posted a 5-8-5 overall record and a 4-6-3 KCAC record a year ago, good for a ninth-place finish in the conference. Head […]
HILLSBORO, Kan. (TaborBluejays.com) – As the summer continues to roll on, the Tabor College Men’s and Women’s Soccer programs have released their slate of preseason scrimmages for the fall of 2025.
Bluejay Women’s Soccer posted a 5-8-5 overall record and a 4-6-3 KCAC record a year ago, good for a ninth-place finish in the conference.
Head Coach Thomas Gaskell‘s squad will test themselves with two scrimmages before stepping onto the pitch for regular season play which kicks off on Aug. 23rd. The Bluejays will host the Topeka Soccer Club on Aug. 17th at 2:00pm and Seward County Community College on Aug. 19th at 5:00pm. Both matches will be played on the turf at Joel H. Wiens Stadium.
Bluejay Men’s Soccer posted a 5-9-3 overall record and a 5-7-1 record in KCAC play a season ago, good for a 10thplace finish in the conference.
First year Head Coach Rafa Marins will lead his team in battle for two scrimmages before the squad officially opens their 2025 campaign on the road on Aug. 27th. The Bluejays will play host to Seward County Community College on Aug. 19th at 7:00pm before heading west to Great Bend, Kan. to take on Barton Community College on Aug. 22nd at 4:00pm.
A full schedule release for each team will come out later in the summer.
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).
