Massachusetts Athletics Supports Two NIL Collectives

AMHERST, Mass. – With NCAA guidance relative to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation and collectives evolving, the University of Massachusetts athletics department has focused on educating its student-athletes, coaches, staff and fan base the last 18 months. Now the department is endorsing two NIL collectives, including the Massachusetts Collective and GoMassNIL.  

Collectives are a group of businesses and/or individuals that combine to provide NIL opportunities for student-athletes at specific institutions. Student-athletes can develop relationships directly with the collectives, which are operated independent of the university.  

"As college athletics changes at a rapid pace, we want to continue our NIL education and student-athlete support efforts using a balanced, forward-looking approach so our students can effectively identify, assess and implement Name, Image and Likeness opportunities while operating within NCAA guidelines," Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "Collectives have developed into an important component of the NIL landscape and we fully support our student-athletes working with qualified collectives to monetize their NIL. These two new collectives have deep ties to the University of Massachusetts and will undoubtedly help enrich our Minutemen and Minutewomen in this new NIL era." 

The Massachusetts Collective is a donor and business driven organization spearheaded by founder Pat MacWilliams, owner of Five College Movers, with a mission to support NIL opportunities for UMass men's and women's basketball student-athletes.  

The GoMassNIL collective will support NIL opportunities for all UMass student-athletes with track and field alum James Hunt '77 leading the collective.  

More information on the University of Massachusetts and NIL can be found at UMassAthletics.com/NIL.