Republican lawmakers discuss consistent guidelines for NIL
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Republican House Judiciary Committee members held a press conference at the Kohl Center to discuss consistent and clearer guidelines for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for college athletes on Friday. These lawmakers want athletes in the Big Ten to have equal opportunities. Before the presser, lawmakers talked with athletes and athletic […]
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Republican House Judiciary Committee members held a press conference at the Kohl Center to discuss consistent and clearer guidelines for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for college athletes on Friday.
These lawmakers want athletes in the Big Ten to have equal opportunities. Before the presser, lawmakers talked with athletes and athletic directors.
They explain it is important to hear testimonials to ensure fairness. It provided a deeper dive into the legal challenges that are shaping the NCAA.
The six leaders shared that they are working with people across different organizations, conferences and sports.
Without action from lawmakers, rules governing college sports such as NIL roster caps and transfers will be shaped in courts.
In 2021, the NCAA approved NIL allowing college athletes to make money off of their names.
“Discussion and how far in depth we got into some of those things, they are all familiar issues. I think we still need to be methodical, continue to take testimony, have public forums that will allow us to get feedback,” Representative Scott Fitzgerald said.
Another representative wants to ensure student athletes are also taking advantage of their education.
“They are here for education,” Representative Tom Tiffany explained. “We need to make sure that we uphold the integrity of that educational institution and not forget that as we go through this whole process.”
15 News also reached out to UW Athletics and Varsity Collective, which provides NIL opportunities, for comment and have not heard back from them.
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team closes out its season series with Marshall on Wednesday, April 30, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Mountaineer fans can watch the games on ESPN+, listen on Mountaineer Sports Network, […]
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team closes out its season series with Marshall on Wednesday, April 30, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Mountaineer fans can watch the games on ESPN+, listen on Mountaineer Sports Network, and can follow along with live stats at WVUsports.com.
West Virginia is 37-5 this season and sit in first place in the Big 12 at 16-3 after recording four straight sweeps against Utah, Houston, Cincinnati, and most recently UCF. The Mountaineers have the highest winning percentage in the country at .881 along with No. 1 Texas.
In the latest polls, West Virginia sits at No. 4 in Perfect Game, No. 10 in NCBWA, No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 8 in Baseball America, No. 18 in The Athletic, and No. 16 by D1Baseball, which is recognized by the NCAA.
Junior Skylar King leads the Mountaineers with a .361 batting average while senior Jace Rinehart has a team-high 43 RBI. Rinehart and junior Logan Sauve each lead the team with seven home runs.
The Mountaineer bullpen has been led by senior Reese Bassinger and sophomore Chase Meyer, who were both named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. Junior Carson Estridge has also been solid since moving back to the bullpen and has five saves to match Bassinger for the team lead.
Pitching Probables
RHP Gavin Van Kempen (2-0, 5.25 ERA, 33 K, 22 BB, 36.0 IP) vs. RHP Peyton Jackson (2-2, 1.47 ERA, 35 K, 8 BB, 30.2 IP)
Led by third year head coach Greg Beals, Marshall is 23-22 after sweeping South Alabama over the weekend.
Eddie Leon leads the team with a .278 batting average while Ethan Murdoch has a team-high nine home runs. Charlie Krebs has been the Herd’s top reliever with a 2.62 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon announced Monday that Chris Lemonis has been relieved of his duties as head baseball coach effective immediately. Lemonis was in his seventh season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. A national search to identify the program’s next head coach is underway. Assistant coach Justin Parker will […]
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon announced Monday that Chris Lemonis has been relieved of his duties as head baseball coach effective immediately.
Lemonis was in his seventh season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. A national search to identify the program’s next head coach is underway.
Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“A change in leadership is what’s best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball,” Selmon said. “We have not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans and student-athletes expect and deserve. I want to thank Coach Lemonis for his work and the time he gave to our program, including a national championship in 2021. We appreciate his efforts and wish him and his family all the best moving forward.
“In a team meeting moments ago, I expressed to our student-athletes the confidence we have in their abilities and the potential they have for the remainder of the season. I encouraged them to compete with pride, resilience, and intensity. With the hard work, preparation, and talent already within this group, we are committed to putting them in the best position to finish the season competing at the highest level.
“Mississippi State is the premier job in college baseball. The tradition, the facilities, the NIL offerings and the fan base are all second to none. Dudy Noble Field is the best environment in the sport, period.
“This program is built for success. Our history proves it, and our future demands it. We are one of only four programs in NCAA history to reach the College World Series in six consecutive decades. With 40 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 trips to Omaha, 11 SEC regular season titles, and a national championship, our program has always been a national contender. That is the bar. We’re going to find a leader who will embrace that, elevate our program and compete for championships.”
Lemonis became State’s 18th head baseball coach on June 25, 2018, and was 232-135 in his six-plus seasons. He owns a 373-226-2 career record as a head coach. Prior to MSU, he went 141-91-2 as head coach at Indiana. Under Lemonis, MSU made three NCAA Tournaments (2019, 2021, 2024), two College World Series (2019, 2021) and won the 2021 national title.
Mississippi State Fires Baseball Head Coach Chris Lemonis
Image credit: Chris Lemonis (Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Mississippi State announced Monday afternoon that baseball head coach Chris Lemonis has been fired effective immediately, ending his tenure partway through his seventh season. Lemonis, who guided the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2021, leaves Starkville with a 232-135 record. Mississippi State […]
Image credit:
Chris Lemonis (Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mississippi State announced Monday afternoon that baseball head coach Chris Lemonis has been fired effective immediately, ending his tenure partway through his seventh season.
Lemonis, who guided the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2021, leaves Starkville with a 232-135 record. Mississippi State currently sits at 25-19 overall and 7-14 in SEC play, appearing on track to miss the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons—a slide that ultimately triggered the university’s decision to move on.
“A change in leadership is what’s best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball,” athletic director Zac Selmon said in a statement. “We have not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans and student-athletes expect and deserve. I want to thank Coach Lemonis for his work and the time he gave to our program, including a national championship in 2021. We appreciate his efforts and wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”
Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as the program’s interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Selmon addressed Mississippi State’s players Monday afternoon following the announcement.
“In a team meeting moments ago, I expressed to our student-athletes the confidence we have in their abilities and the potential they have for the remainder of the season,” Selmon said. “I encouraged them to compete with pride, resilience, and intensity. With the hard work, preparation, and talent already within this group, we are committed to putting them in the best position to finish the season competing at the highest level.”
Lemonis’ tenure at Mississippi State began with great promise. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2019 and 2021, culminating in the program’s first national championship. However, the years that followed saw a significant downturn, with Mississippi State struggling to maintain its place among the SEC’s elite. After a last-place SEC finish in 2022 and a missed postseason again in 2023, the Bulldogs’ continued inconsistency in 2025 proved too much to overcome.
Mississippi State said it will conduct a national search for its next head coach, emphasizing the program’s stature within the sport.
“Mississippi State is the premier job in college baseball,” Selmon said. “The tradition, the facilities, the NIL offerings and the fan base are all second to none. Dudy Noble Field is the best environment in the sport, period.”
The Bulldogs have three SEC series remaining as they attempt to salvage their postseason hopes under Parker’s leadership.
KC Smurthwaite is a consultant for Athletics Admin, specializing in revenue generation, licensing, marketing, and higher education. He has almost two decades of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports and entertainment industry. Smurthwaite is a fractional employee of several athletic departments across the country. He also teaches sports management and journalism as an adjunct […]
KC Smurthwaite is a consultant for Athletics Admin, specializing in revenue generation, licensing, marketing, and higher education. He has almost two decades of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports and entertainment industry. Smurthwaite is a fractional employee of several athletic departments across the country. He also teaches sports management and journalism as an adjunct professor. Follow him on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn. Smurthwaite can also be reached at [email protected].
Somewhere off the coast of Cabo San Lucas earlier this month, the largest gathering of Brigham Young University Cougar fans outside of Provo wasn’t in a stadium or an arena — it was aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. Over 3,000 BYU fans, alumni, legends, and employees came together for “Cruisin’ with the Cougs,” the inaugural “ultimate BYU fan experience” — and perhaps the start of a new model for college athletic departments nationwide.
In a college athletics landscape often dominated by discussions of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and broadcast rights, BYU just pulled off one of the most fan-first moves in recent memory: a full-scale cruise takeover.
And the idea? It was years in the making.
The concept was born from Troy Dunn, Jason Burgess, and Jennifer Dunn, co-founders of The Charter King, and inspired by their longtime friend, the late Ryan Williams. Their shared vision was bold but straightforward: create the ultimate experience for BYU fans near and far, but especially those who live far from Utah — fans who don’t often experience a game day in Provo, a tailgate, or even a religious team fireside.
“A lot of fans don’t get to experience game days in Provo,” Dunn said. “We wanted to create something that would surpass all previous BYU fan experiences.”
Dunn and Burgess approached BYU’s leadership — notably Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and Associate Athletic Director Chad Lewis — and quickly found support. A committee was formed, and “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” officially set sail April 11–18, 2025, departing from Los Angeles with stops in Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta.
Sadly, Williams, who had the original vision for such a fan experience, passed away from a heart attack at just 46 years old. For Dunn & Burgess, seeing the project through to completion became a deeply personal mission.
“We wanted to see it through for Ryan,” Dunn said.
The cruise was packed with experiences: meet-and-greets, breaking down film with coaches, sports camps, Q&A sessions, and even a Sunday service led by former BYU football player turned Transformation Church pastor Dr. Derwin “Dewey” Gray. Over 30 BYU legends participated, from current head coaches to Cougar icons like Kalani Sitake, Jimmer Fredette, and even the legendary Jim McMahon. Cosmo the Cougar was also on hand, hosting dance camps for kids, and photo ops for fans of all ages.
Dr. Jeff Fuller, a BYU fan and ophthalmologist who attended the cruise, called the experience “surreal.”
“The highlight of the trip was running on a treadmill with a legend. I looked over, and Jimmer came in and got on the one next to me,” Fuller said. “The legends were all great. It was fun to see them interact with their families and other fans.”
Despite BYU’s traditional ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — and its well-known honor code regarding alcohol — the cruise operated fully, including the ship’s casino and bar areas. However, according to sources, it was the ice cream and soda stations that were the busiest spots aboard.
“BYU fans come in all shapes and sizes,” Dunn said. “This cruise displayed that perfectly. Everybody was welcome.”
Organizing a full-ship charter is no small feat. While officials declined to disclose exact costs, research indicates it likely ran north of $600,000 per night — not including insurance, staffing, and international logistics. Sponsorships, including a Mountain America Credit Union title sponsor deal, helped offset some expenses.
“It was extremely hard and time-consuming, very expensive, and a scary venture to lean into,” Dunn said. “There are thousands upon thousands of micro-details. This wasn’t something we put together overnight.”
Still, the financial blueprint is there — and according to Dunn, several other college athletic departments have already reached out to explore the model for themselves.
“I’ll let them announce their own plans,” he said with a smile that beamed through the phone.
Tickets for the 2025 cruise, which had a base price of around $1,000, sold out — though organizers intentionally limited capacity to maintain an intimate experience. A second “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” is already slated for 2027, with even higher fan excitement expected. The current pre-registration waiting list already exceeds 12,000.
So, could your athletic department set sail?
No, not every program can charter a cruise liner. But the model offers an intriguing alternative to traditional fan engagement strategies for athletic departments with large, passionate fan bases — particularly those with alumni spread across the country.
Instead of another neutral-site football game or a coaches caravan, why not create a week-long, immersive experience where fans can share ice cream (or a beer) with school legends, attend youth camps, and some may even worship together?
In an era where collegiate athletics often feels increasingly transactional, the cruise felt refreshingly different to learn about.
And while millions are being thrown at NIL collectives and luxury facilities, “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” showed that sometimes, all fans really want is a chance to be part of the family — preferably somewhere off the coast of Cabo.
Maybe the next wave will come by way of cruises.
Raise your Coke, Cougar Nation. You just set a new standard.
Field of 64 Projections: Upset-heavy weekend leads to chaos entering final stretch
With just three weeks left in the regular season, the postseason picture looks completely different than it did a week ago. In this week’s Field of 64 projections, we have two new hosts and a ton of movement within the top 16, as well as the entire field. While bids will be stolen during conference […]
With just three weeks left in the regular season, the postseason picture looks completely different than it did a week ago. In this week’s Field of 64 projections, we have two new hosts and a ton of movement within the top 16, as well as the entire field.
While bids will be stolen during conference tournament week, the NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be a fun one right now. The bubble has also shifted fairly significantly over recent weeks, with a lot at stake over the final weeks of the regular season.
In our latest Field of 64, the SEC leads the way with 13 bids. They are followed by the ACC (10), Big 12 (6), Big Ten (4), Sun Belt (3), Conference USA (2), Big East (2) and Big West (2) with multiple bids. On the hosting line, the SEC also leads the way with seven, including five top eight seeds. The ACC follows with four (two top eights), while the Big West, Big 12, Big Ten and Sun Belt each have one.
The full NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday, May 26. After the regular season concludes in three weeks, conference tournaments will get underway.
Field of 64: Bubble Watch
Last Four In: Texas A&M, Western Kentucky, Kansas State, Arizona State First Four Out: Mississippi State, UTRGV, Michigan, Virginia Next Four Out: UC Santa Barbara, Creighton, McNeese, Cincinnati
While they were in the field last week and off the bubble, Texas A&M slides back to one of our final four teams in after being swept by Texas. The Aggies are still in solid shape, but they’ll need to get to 13 SEC wins. Mississippi State also needs to reach that mark, but time is running out.
Western Kentucky has been comfortably in for a while now, even as our projected Conference USA champion, but getting swept by FIU has set them back and knocked their RPI down into the 40s. They’ll need to rebound, but for now, they stay in.
The most noteworthy team on the outside is undoubtedly preseason No. 2 Virginia, who just swept Georgia Tech to get back into the NCAA Tournament mix. They’re not in yet, but with RPI trending upwards into the 70s, they’ll have a shot if they can improve that even more over the final weeks.
Austin Regional
Max Belyeu (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
1. Texas (1)* 2. UTSA* 3. Arizona State 4. Bethune-Cookman*
Once again, Texas is the top overall seed in this week’s Field of 64. To be completely honest, there’s a gap between them and the rest of the pack right now. The Longhorns are 37-5 overall, but even more impressively 19-2 in the SEC with a five-game conference lead. Texas also leads the country with 14 Q1 wins, sitting 14-3 in Q1 games.
While UCLA wasn’t in the hosting mix in last week’s projections, they’re back in this week. The Bruins are 32-11 overall, 16-5 in Big Ten play and No. 17 in RPI at this point. They might have to win the Big Ten to host due to a 2-5 Q1 record, but if things play out in their favor, they will be in the mix even if they can’t catch Iowa. Arizona is another potential host, falling out of our top 16 this week.
Athens Regional
1. Georgia (2) 2. Wake Forest 3. East Tennessee State* 4. Central Connecticut*
Georgia has been all over the top eight in our projections over recent weeks, but they settle in as a comfortable No. 2 overall seed today. The Bulldogs are 35-11 overall, 12-9 in SEC play and No. 2 in RPI, also tied for second with 12 Q1 wins. Further boosting Georgia’s resume is a No. 3 non-conference RPI and a No. 4 overall strength of schedule.
Nashville Regional
1. Vanderbilt (15) 2. TCU 3. Iowa 4. Ball State*
Vanderbilt has a pretty strong resume, and the only reason they’re the No. 15 seed is their remaining schedule. The Commodores finish vs. Alabama, at Tennessee and vs. Kentucky, which won’t be an easy stretch. Still, they are 31-13 overall, 12-9 in SEC play and No. 3 in RPI, and they’re pretty safe as a host. They’re an easy candidate to rise even higher. The same is true for TCU, who is just shy of the hosting line in today’s Field of 64 but remains firmly in the mix for a top 16 seed.
Baton Rouge Regional
LSU’s Kade Anderson (32) throws a pitch during the college baseball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the LSU Tigers at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla., Thursday, April, 3, 2025.
LSU picked up a massive series win over Tennessee this past weekend, improving to 36-9 overall, 14-7 in SEC play. The Tigers come in at No. 9 in RPI, and are feeling very safe as a regional host. LSU could finish just about anywhere in the top 16, from where they are today at No. 3 to one of the first teams on the outside of the top eight.
Raleigh Regional
1. NC State (14) 2. Alabama 3. Troy 4. Columbia*
All of a sudden, NC State sits atop the ACC’s standings. While a big series against UNC awaits, the Wolfpack have done enough to get into the hosting picture at 30-12 overall, 15-6 in the ACC and No. 22 in RPI. If they keep winning and end up taking the ACC crown, they’ll be in the top eight. Alabama is another potential regional host, our No. 17 overall seed this week. If someone falls out of the hosting mix, Alabama is next up.
Chapel Hill Regional
1. North Carolina (4)* 2. Kentucky 3. UConn* 4. Bryant*
North Carolina isn’t currently in first place in the ACC, but we’re projecting them to take the ACC title by the end of the regular season. The Tar Heels are 33-10 overall, 15-9 in ACC play and No. 7 in RPI, also currently No. 1 in non-conference RPI to further boost the resume. The way things are looking now, UNC is a very comfortable host, and feeling pretty good as a top eight.
Corvallis Regional
1. Oregon State (13) 2. Cal Poly 3. USC 4. Fresno State*
This past weekend was definitely a setback for Oregon State. The Beavers were swept by rival Oregon, falling to 32-10 on the year and now sit at No. 11 in RPI. Losing that series felt like a big missed opportunity, with their remaining weekends being at Hawaii (RPI 72), at Iowa (RPI 61), and vs. Long Beach State (RPI 179). For now, Oregon State is a comfortable host. But if they falter any down the stretch, they could move into danger on the hosting bubble.
Clemson Regional
Clemson baseball players Cam Cannarella and Dominic Listi celebrate the Tigers’ win over the Arizona Wildcats earlier this season. Photo by: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images
1. Clemson (5) 2. Southern Miss 3. Florida 4. High Point*
Clemson lost their series over the weekend to NC State, but the Tigers are still feeling good as a top eight seed. They are 36-10 overall and 13-8 in the ACC, coming in at No. 8 in RPI at this point. This turned out to be an intriguing regional, with Southern Miss as the 2 and Florida as the 3. The Gators are still just above the bubble, but they must get to 13 wins to be in that position.
Conway Regional
1. Coastal Carolina (12)* 2. Ole Miss 3. Duke 4. Oral Roberts*
Coastal Carolina remains a comfortable host in this week’s Field of 64, sitting 33-11 overall, 17-4 in the Sun Belt and No. 13 in RPI. Their 3-6 Q1 record is a flaw on the resume, but if the Chanticleers finish in this RPI range and run away with the Sun Belt, they’ll undoubtedly be hosting. Another potential host falls in here with Ole Miss, and the Rebels could very easily be around this range as a host if they finish the regular season strongly.
Irvine Regional
1. UC Irvine (6)* 2. Oregon 3. Kansas State 4. San Diego*
UC Irvine has stayed hot, sweeping Cal Poly on the road over the weekend. The Anteaters are now 32-9 overall, 19-2 in the Big West, and have surged up to No. 12 in RPI. That RPI is going to drop over the final weeks with a remaining weekend schedule of UC San DIego (RPI 187), at California Baptist (RPI 257) and Cal State Fullerton (RPI 150), but if they win those games and keep the RPI in a respectable spot, they’re going to be hosting and in the top eight mix.
Arkansas has lost three consecutive series, and are trending in the wrong direction. Still, the Razorbacks are 37-9 overall, 14-7 in SEC play and No. 5 in RPI. The schedule only gets tougher, too, finishing vs. Texas, at LSU and vs. Tennessee. The Razorbacks still have a hosting-caliber resume, but they’ll be in danger on the hosting bubble if they end the season with six straight series losses. Kansas is a team that could jump into the hosting picture, should a team like Arkansas fall.
Tennessee is down a couple spots in this week’s Field of 64 after falling to LSU, but the Vols are still in great shape as a host and a potential top eight. The Vols are 35-9 overall, 13-8 in the SEC and No. 10 in RPI, with a 12-4 Q1 record. They finish with Auburn, Vanderbilt and at Arkansas, so what happens over the final weeks will determine exaclty where Tennessee settles in.
Morgantown Regional
1. West Virginia (10)* 2. Oklahoma 3. Northeastern* 4. George Mason*
West Virginia continues to trend upwards, now 37-5 overall, 16-3 in Big 12 play and No. 15 in RPI. The Mountaineers are still sitting at the top of the Big 12, and winning that regular season would likely solidify their status as a top 16 seed. Oklahoma is another potential host, finishing a little bit behind the rest of the pack this week.
Auburn’s resume keeps getting stronger, now 30-14 overall, 11-10 in the SEC and No. 4 in RPI, with an 11-9 Q1 record to go with it. The Tigers finish with Tennessee, South Carolina and Ole Miss, and if they can keep finding ways to win, they’re going to be safe as a host and a likely top eight seed, as we have them in today’s Field of 64.
Florida State dropped its series against Louisville over the weekend, but the Seminoles are still a safe host at this point. They also have a strong case to be a top eight seed, at 31-9 overall, 12-6 in ACC play and No. 6 in RPI. FSU also has a 10-8 Q1 record, which will help their case. Dallas Baptist is a little bit behind some of the other hosting contenders, but they could be right there in the mix, too.
Publicis Buys Adopt, Sports Agency Founded by Rich Paul and Ex
Publicis Groupe’s $500 million-plus 2025 shopping spree continues with the acquisition of Adopt, a global sports and culture-focused marketing agency established by former Nike executives David Creech and Josh Moore and U.S. sports agent and entrepreneur Rich Paul. Adopt was founded in 2021. Headquartered in Portland, Ore., it provides branding and marketing services for sports, […]
Publicis Groupe’s $500 million-plus 2025 shopping spree continues with the acquisition of Adopt, a global sports and culture-focused marketing agency established by former Nike executives David Creech and Josh Moore and U.S. sports agent and entrepreneur Rich Paul.
Adopt was founded in 2021. Headquartered in Portland, Ore., it provides branding and marketing services for sports, wellness, nutrition, tech, and consumer companies. Recently, it has produced work for Lululemon and The North Face.
Publicis has purchased the agency for an undisclosed sum.
In a statement, the French advertising network said the deal would strengthen its ability to “harness the power of athletes and sport to accelerate iconic and authentic cultural brand connections.”
It will continue to be led by Nike veterans Creech and Moore, who collectively bring more than 50 years of experience in brand, product, and experience design.
“Adopt is at the forefront of creativity, culture and human behavior–blending all three to deliver customer-centric brand strategies,” said Dave Penski, global chief executive (CEO) of Publicis Connected Media. “[Its] deep and multi-faceted expertise is invaluable to all clients seeking to define and modernize their brand at the speed of culture.”
Adopted by Publicis
Creech formerly spent nearly two decades at Nike, leading all aspects of Jordan Brand’s global design, including footwear, apparel, and retail. Along the way, he worked with athletes including Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods.
Moore, meanwhile, has an over 12-year career with the sneaker giant, responsible for Nike’s digital design efforts, including Nike.com, its training and running apps, and its SNKRS app.
As founder of Klutch Sports Group, which has operated under entertainment company United Talent Agency (UTA) since 2019, Paul is one of America’s best-known sports agents. He represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, and numerous other NBA stars.
“Sport is the greatest force in the world today–driving culture, commerce, connection, and community,” Paul said.
“The talent I saw in David and Josh combined with their experience in sport culture led me to believe we could take that and use it to make a real impact for global brands,” he added. “They have world-class expertise, and it’s proving out already based on Adopt’s major growth trajectory, which has skyrocketed in just four years.”
