NIL Edge Interview: Tate Gillespie - Players Health
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:
Insurance isn’t usually the first thing people think about when they talk NIL—but in today’s revenue-sharing era, it’s quickly becoming one of the most important.
In this episode of NIL Edge, host Sterling Randall sits down with Tate Gillespie, Vice President of Strategy & Partnerships at Players Health and former inaugural NIL Director at Kansas, to unpack how insurance, risk management, and roster strategy now intersect in college athletics.
From protecting seven-figure NIL investments to helping coaches and administrators make smarter roster decisions, Tate offers a behind-the-scenes look at how universities are beginning to professionalize NIL operations—and why insurance is no longer optional in a $20M+ athlete economy.
If you work in an athletic department, with a collective, or alongside NIL decision-makers, this conversation will change how you think about risk, ROI, and long-term program stability.
Key Takeaways
NIL is now a balance-sheet issue, not just a marketing one
As revenue share dollars move onto university books, NIL spending is being scrutinized like any other major business expense—making insurance and risk protection a necessary part of modern athletic department operations.Risk visibility is reshaping roster construction
Injury history, transfer likelihood, and contract structure are now data-driven decisions. Insurance tools are helping coaches and GMs evaluate ROI before committing major NIL dollars—often in portal windows measured in hours, not weeks.Insurance can unlock smarter NIL strategy—not just protection
Rather than being a passive safety net, insurance is influencing how contracts are structured, how bonuses are front-loaded, and how departments communicate stewardship and trust to donors facing NIL fatigue.
Interested in being our next Guest? Let us know at info@nilnewsstand.com