Elevate U
ELEVATE U TEAM
The new era of Elevate U is here to supercharge Utah student-athletes—giving them the tools, knowledge and edge to build powerful brands and cash in on their potential. Our Elevate U team is arming them with bold brand education and real-world resources to unlock next-level skills and become unstoppable Brand Ambassadors for the University of Utah and the entire Utah community.
WHAT IS A BRAND AMBASSADOR?
Brand ambassadors represent and promote the brands of companies, their products or services through various methods, including the use of personal social media platforms, in-person speaking engagements and wearing apparel that promotes a company's mission, vision and values.
MEET THE TEAM
JASON GRECO
Executive Sr. Assoc. A.D. for Brand Strategy and Governance
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The Executive Senior Assoc. Athletics Director for Brand Strategy and Governance oversees the Elevate U program and is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategies and execution of the mission and goals of the program, including:
- Revenue Share and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) contracts
- Ensuring compliance with NCAA, Federal and State governance requirements to best position Utah student-athletes for engagement in NIL opportunities that align with their brands.
- Oversee the student-athlete benefit allocation in relation to the NCAA vs. House settlement to ensure it meets all legislative and reporting guidelines.
- Creating and maintaining clear guidelines and policies regarding NIL and Brand Ambassador engagement to ensure they meet institutional and governance standards.
- Ensuring the development of workshops, seminars and one-on-one meetings that educate student-athletes about brand ambassador opportunities, contract negotiations and the legal obligations of endorsement deals.
- Oversee the review of Brand Ambassador deals to ensure they adhere to NCAA, Federal, Institutional and State requirements.
- Establish and communicate resources that assist students, recruits and agents in understanding Utah’s Elevate U program and how student-athletes can benefit from the program.
- Provide support to student-athlete to ensure their ability to make informed decisions.
GAVIN VAN WAGONER
Asst. A.D. for Student-Athlete Branding and External Engagement
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The Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Branding and External Engagement is responsible for overseeing the Elevate U program’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) interests of student-athletes. The primary responsibilities are to:
- Develop and implementing branding strategies that bests position student-athletes for brand ambassador opportunities that align with their personal brands.
- Work with creative teams to develop social media strategies that highlight student-athletes' success on/off the playing surface to better connect student-athletes to potential business partners.
- Work with alumni, donors and community members to enhance support for student-athlete brand ambassador engagement.
- Organize and manage special events that connect student-athletes to alumni, donors, fans and program supporters.
- Provide guidance and support to student-athletes and coaches on best practices for managing their personal brands and public image.
- Ensure compliance with NCAA, Federal, State and Institutional laws, policies and standards pertaining to NIL engagement.
- Work with other units within athletics department to promote, highlight and bring exposure to the brand ambassador activities of Utah student-athletes.
ASHLEY LEAR
Director of Student-Athlete Brand Education and Support Services
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The Director for Student-Athlete Brand Education and Support Services is responsible for developing and implementing the Elevate U program's education and student-athlete support services that:
- Focus on personal brand development, social media presence, financial responsibility and planning, and public image management education.
- Engage students in workshops and seminars on topics such as media training, effective communication and brand management, financial literacy and social responsibility.
- Provide tools, resources and materials that assist student-athletes in building their personal brands, and provide best practices for healthy and safe NIL engagement.
- Provide strategies that enhance student-athletes' understanding of resources through the Elevate U program.
- Collaborate with the Office for Belonging and Student Success on student-athlete onboarding/offboarding programs, student-athlete celebrations, and University and NCAA requirement educations.
- Meet with recruits and parents to educate them on Utah’s support for student-athlete brand ambassador and institutional NIL engagement.
- Provide one-on-one consultation with student-athletes to understand branding needs and NIL interests and goals and assist student-athletes in developing plans to achieve those goals.
- Work with the Assistant A.D. for Student-Athlete Branding and External Engagement to facilitate access to external partners through and business experts through networking and mentoring events.
- Work directly with coaches on the integration of brand education into the teams’ student development strategies.
- Work with creative teams to ensure consistent messaging occurs across all communication platforms.
- Ensure all NIL deals adhere to Federal, State, Institutional and NCAA rules and policies.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni and business leaders for networking and mentorship opportunities for student-athletes.
- Track and evaluate effectiveness of educational programs and adjust to ensure programs are pertinent and up to date.
DAYANERRAH DELP
Director of Student-Athlete Brand Education and Student-Athlete Support Services
Bio | Contact
The Director of Student-Athlete Brand Education and Student-Athlete Support Services is the liaison to all onboarding and off-boarding for student-athletes, including:
- Support in student-athlete brand education and development.
- Support in prospective recruit branding.
- Liaison to the business office to coordinate payment scheduling and execution.
- Social media and content creator for ElevateU.
- Brand Ambassador liaison to Utah Athletics teams
ATHLETICS PROGRAMS GENERAL MANAGERS & TEAM REVENUE SHARE LIAISONS
General Managers & Team Revenue Share Liaisons of specific sports are responsible for the following:
- Work closely with the Executive Senior Assoc. A.D. for Brand Strategy and Governance on student-athlete contract and program’s cap management.
- Successful execution of institutional student-athlete NIL contracts.
- Ensure effective and transparent communication between all stakeholders involved in institutional NIL negotiations and expectations.
- Develop strategies to maximize the financial benefits for student-athletes while ensuring the sustainability of the sports program.
- Serve as a positive ambassador for the university and athletics department and create positive relationships with external partners and key stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the Director of Student-Athlete Brand Education and Support Services on NIL education for student-athletes, coaches and program support staff.
- Use data to analyze fair market value for appropriate assessment and allocation of resources and forecast the earning potential of current student-athletes and recruits for future seasons, retention strategies, recruiting needs and budget planning.
COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE OFFICERS
The Compliance and Governance Officers are assigned respective teams for the purpose of ensuring the following:
- Student-athletes, coaches, recruits, agents or student representatives adhere to Federal, State, institutional and NCAA rules and policies pertaining to NIL engagement and activities.
- Ensure that all policies and procedures that govern student-athletes involvement in NIL activities are kept up to date.
- Conduct required coach and student-athlete education that keep parties informed on NIL policies and procedures.
- Monitor and report NIL activities through appropriate management systems and prepare reports required for regulatory purposes.
- Identify and mitigate risks associated with NIL activities to prevent violations and protect institutional and athletic program reputation.
- Resolve compliance issues and effectively communicate outcomes in a timely manner.
- Evaluate and conduct program assessments and adjust where necessary to ensure integrity of program.
- Work closely with legal counsel to address potential legal issues pertaining to NIL activity.
- Monitor student-athlete participation and ensue adherence to roster limits.
Delaney Reilly – Associate AD for Compliance (Women’s Basketball, Volleyball)
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Claire Stauber – Director for Compliance (MLAX, M&W S&D, M&W Skiing, Soccer, Golf)
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Marlena Adams – Director for Compliance (Men’s Basketball, Softball, Baseball, M&W Tennis)
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Ethan Frisone – Director for Compliance - Eligibility (Gymnastics, Beach Volleyball, Track and Field/Cross Country)
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