Wabash College President Scott Feller and Director of Athletics Matt Tanney have announced that Wabash has entered a multi-year partnership with Opendorse, the nation’s leading education-focused Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) firm.
The comprehensive suite of services from Opendorse will teach student-athletes how to build their personal brand and connect with nationally recognized companies; educate them on the tax implications of NIL; and help maintain NCAA compliance and eligibility requirements.
“An Opendorse partnership creates a transparent, education-focused NIL space at Wabash, protecting scholar-athletes’ interests in a dynamic environment often full of conjecture and ambiguity,” Tanney said. “Despite the splashy headlines about NIL, we at Wabash remain steadfast in our commitment to a holistic scholar-athlete experience focused on personal growth and development.”
Tanney said the real draw to partner with Opendorse is the firm’s ability to connect with student-athletes on campus and provide them with educational opportunities.
Opendorse is the leading athlete marketplace and NIL company, providing technology and services to the athlete endorsement industry, including partnerships with more than 20 other NCAA Division III schools and conferences. Wabash is the first college in the North Coast Athletic Conference to forge a partnership.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Wabash College as our newest NIL partner,” said Opendorse President of Collegiate Operations, Blake Lawrence. “They are committed to equipping their student-athletes with a holistic, education-first NIL experience that will help to maximize opportunities, while developing skills for the future. We’re excited to work with their team to provide an excellent athlete experience and continue to expand our footprint at the Division III level.”
“Today’s announcement is the next step in the evolution of NIL at Wabash,” Tanney added. “We’ve closely followed its bumpy implementation at every level of intercollegiate sport since NIL became permitted at NCAA institutions in July 2021. At Wabash, we’re motivated to perform at a high level in every phase of training, competition, and in the classroom. Opendorse helps us reach those goals today and in the future, when this fluid landscape will inevitably change course.”
More than 150,000 athletes use Opendorse to build and monetize their name, image, and likeness with support 
from the world’s top brands, colleges, NIL collectives, and partners including Team USA, LEARFIELD, Keller Williams Real Estate, and more.
Opendorse demonstrated its commitment to Division III athletics through its sponsorship of the Opendorse Bowl Series, a two-game post-season competition involving teams from the North Coast Athletic Conference, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Ohio Athletic Conference, and the President’s Athletic Conference. The inaugural bowl series will be played November 23 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.