UNLV First in Nevada to Directly Compensate Student-Athletes

News Summary

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has made history by becoming the first school in Nevada to directly pay its student-athletes. This decision follows a recent court settlement allowing a new revenue-sharing model among participating institutions, enabling them to distribute part of a $20.5 million pool to student-athletes from media rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales. The change aims to enhance the academic and athletic experiences of student-athletes, reflecting a broader shift towards fair compensation in collegiate athletics.

Las Vegas, Nevada — The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has become the first institution in Nevada to begin paying student-athletes directly, a landmark decision following the approval of a settlement from the House v. NCAA court case. A federal judge recently endorsed this settlement, which introduces a new revenue-sharing model among participating schools.

The settlement allows UNLV and its counterparts to distribute part of a $20.5 million pool generated from media rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales directly to student-athletes. Payments are expected to commence at the beginning of the upcoming academic year, although UNLV does not anticipate reaching the full cap in its initial year under the new compensation structure.

In conjunction with this development, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed SB 293, legislation empowering state colleges to pay student-athletes directly. This initiative is designed to prioritize the needs and experiences of student-athletes, enhancing their academic and athletic endeavors.

UNLV’s athletics department has expressed confidence in this transformative era, suggesting that the new payment model will have positive impacts for both the athletes and the university. The adoption of direct payments for student-athletes reflects a broader shift within collegiate athletics, moving towards compensation beyond just name, image, and likeness earnings.

The class action lawsuit that instigated this settlement was brought forth by former student-athletes Grant House and Sedona Prince against the NCAA and Power Five conferences. The agreement alters the landscape of collegiate sports by removing caps on athletic scholarships, while imposing new limits on team rosters, allowing schools to potentially expand their athlete numbers.

According to UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno, implementing a revenue-sharing model is crucial if they hope to remain competitive with other institutions. The new system aims to allow athletic departments to share in a total of $2.8 billion in back pay owed to former student-athletes. Institutions choosing to participate in this revenue-sharing model will be subject to its benefits and responsibilities, which include a spending cap of up to $20.5 million for student-athlete compensation.

The approval of this settlement represents a significant pivot in collegiate athletics, enabling the compensation of student-athletes and fostering a closer relationship with the local community. The program is expected to draw more support for athletic programs, thereby increasing engagement and investment in student-athlete welfare.

As UNLV prepares to implement the new payment structure, the university’s leadership emphasizes the importance of adapting to these recent changes to maintain a competitive edge. With the lifting of scholarship caps and roster limits, UNLV aims to build stronger athletic teams while setting a precedent in the region for student-athlete compensation.

This recent development signifies a transformative time for collegiate athletics, aligning financial structures more closely with the growing economic realities faced by student-athletes. With the settlement combining elements from three separate lawsuits and the approval from the courts, the future of student-athlete compensation in Nevada and potentially across the nation is set on a new course, prioritizing fairness and opportunity within the collegiate sports framework.

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Additional Resources

• News 3 Las Vegas
• UNLV Rebels
• Sports Illustrated
• Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Fox 5 Vegas
• Wikipedia: College Athletics in the United States
• Google Search: Student-Athlete Compensation
• Google Scholar: Student-Athlete Compensation
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College Athletics
• Google News: UNLV Student-Athletes