Utah State coach touts massive NIL jump amid NCAA Tournament
BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ
There is no dancing around NIL in college basketball if a program wants to have a shot to win it all in the Big Dance.
Utah State head coach cites his programs jump in NIL funding as a key factor in their tournament success this season.
“I think it’s on every coach’s mind right around the country,” Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “Back in the day it was what your practice facility looked like, what’s the arena, are you chartering, what’s the deal? Now it’s what’s the budget? What’s the school sharing with you and what’s the donor base like?”
All of these NIL questions are ones that, according to Calhoun, Utah State has had a massive success with.
“I know this, our donor base has been incredible at Utah State,” Calhoun continued. “We went from $880K last year, probably the lowest budgeted team in the country to get an at large bid, to this year at $2.4M. We tripled it.”
Utah State was blown out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year. This year they have a shot at the Sweet 16 but will have to face one of the most dominant teams in the country in Arizona to do so.
It’s been a major success for Calhoun and the Aggies this season. One they will look to continue and improve upon as the tournament marches on.
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