87:60 by Virtuoso The King of D3 NIL: Jack Betts
Apr 21, 2025
Jack Betts, founder of Make Your Own Legacy Academy and former Amherst College student-athlete, built a DIII NIL movement helping lower-division athletes monetize and professionalize their brands. He discusses choosing Amherst, landing early NIL deals, securing 40+ partnerships, using micro-influencer strategies, teaching pro skills over one-off deals, and growing a long-term athlete network.
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Brand Strategy Determines NIL Matches
- NIL adoption depends on brand strategy and risk tolerance, not just athlete tier.
- Big brands target marquee athletes while local businesses and smaller brands are better fits for D2/D3 athletes with community ties.
Coach Athletes To Advocate For Themselves
- Educate and empower athletes rather than act as traditional agents; teach them to advocate for themselves.
- Use a coach-like model: prepare athletes with skills and frameworks, then let them execute and own the outcomes.
D2 D3 Hustle Drives NIL Success
- Most academy participants come from D2, D3, JUCO and NAIA, with football the dominant sport.
- Those athletes succeed because they adopt a hustle mentality and must self-advocate without campus collectives or agents.