NIL Edge Interview - Lauren Cherry - North Texas - Director, NIL Strategy & Revenue Share Operations
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.
NIL Edge Interview - Lauren Cherry - North Texas - Director, NIL Strategy & Revenue Share Operations
Featured Interview:
What does it take to prepare student-athletes for success in today's NIL environment?
In this episode of NIL Edge, we sit down with Lauren Cherry, Director of NIL Strategy & Revenue Share Operations at the University of North Texas, to discuss how athletic departments can help student-athletes build the skills needed to thrive in the modern college athletics landscape.
Lauren shares how North Texas developed its Influence Cohort, a program designed to educate athletes on personal branding, content creation, and professional development. She explains why NIL education matters more than ever, how schools can help athletes create value beyond the playing field, and what businesses should look for when evaluating potential athlete partnerships.
The conversation also explores the realities behind NIL deal values, common misconceptions about the industry, the challenges of managing roster turnover in the transfer portal era, and how athletic departments are adapting to a rapidly changing college sports environment.
Topics covered:
• The University of North Texas Influence Cohort
• Why NIL education matters more than ever
• Preparing student-athletes for brand partnerships
• Common misconceptions about NIL compensation
• What businesses should look for in athlete partners
• Managing NIL in the transfer portal era
• Athlete development beyond endorsements
• The future of NIL and revenue sharing in college athletics
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Interested in being our next Guest? Let us know at info@nilnewsstand.com