Urban Meyer, former Ohio State coach, joins NIL nonprofit board

On Mar 16, 2022

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is joining the board of a nonprofit that will pay Buckeyes football and basketball players to work with charities.

Meyer will serve on the board of THE Foundation, an organization co-founded by Brian Schottenstein, a Columbus real estate developer and Ohio State booster, and Cardale Jones, the former national championship-winning quarterback for the Buckeyes. It launches at the end of this month.

Under NCAA rules passed last summer, college athletes are permitted to profit off the use of their name, image and likeness.

The opportunities for compensation from third parties have in recent months led to boosters at a series of schools setting up groups that pool money and resources from fervent fans to fund NIL deals for players. Experts see these efforts as part of a burgeoning arms race across the college sports landscape.

Schottenstein said earlier this year that he aims for THE Foundation, which will also rely on donations from Ohio State fans, to become the largest NIL fund in the country.

The board for THE Foundation will include about a dozen members in addition to staff, according to Schottenstein.

“Urban looks forward to seeing future success for OSU and local charities,” read THE Foundation’s tweet on Wednesday announcing the addition of Meyer.