NIL Edge Interview: Brennan White - Assistant Athletic Director/General Manager & NIL Administration - Illinois State
A partnership between NILNewsstand & Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern
NIL Edge is a new interview series from NILNewsstand and Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern that spotlights the professionals shaping the future of college sports. From NIL directors to athletic directors, brand executives, and policy shapers, these conversations provide exclusive insights into how the industry is evolving in the NIL and revenue-sharing era.
Featured Interview:
In this episode of NIL Edge, we sit down with Brennan White, Assistant AD / General Manager for NIL Administration at Illinois State, to explore how NIL strategy looks outside the Power Four — and what it really takes to build sustainable opportunities for student-athletes at the FCS level. Brennan shares lessons from Illinois State’s recent football success, the realities of operating with limited resources, and why relationships remain the foundation of effective NIL programs.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How Illinois State built an effective NIL strategy at the FCS level — focusing on relationships, local partnerships, and intentional resource allocation rather than chasing volume.
The role of community and local businesses in NIL success, and why regional partnerships often drive the most authentic and sustainable opportunities for student-athletes.
How NIL leaders manage expectations and educate athletes, helping them understand value, ROI for businesses, and what “true NIL” looks like outside the Power Four ecosystem.
This conversation offers a practical look at how NIL programs can succeed without massive budgets — and why people, process, and trust still matter most in the evolving NIL landscape.
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Interested in being our next Guest? Let us know at info@nilnewsstand.com