Mount St. James Collective, as announced by Shift Group and Holy Cross Athletics, has launched to assist Holy Cross student-athletes in leveraging their name, image and likeness (NIL).
The Collective is led by J.R. Butler '08 of Shift Group and has engaged FirstTeam Sports Consulting, LLC to administer operations through Opendorse. It will work to create unique opportunities for student-athletes to receive NIL compensation while building their personal brands. The Mount St. James Collective will facilitate connections between business owners, alumni, fans and community members with Crusader student-athletes in order to build relationships within the campus and Worcester community. The Collective is committed to providing opportunities that align with the College's mission and values in order to prepare our student-athletes for life after college and sports.
As an official corporate sponsor of Holy Cross Athletics, the Mount St. James Collective will have access to unique branding opportunities and will serve as the department's official NIL partner.
"One of the main reasons I chose to play college hockey at Holy Cross, especially as a local kid, was how people in my orbit talked about the strength and support of the alumni community once you earned the title of 'Crusader' and wore the uniform," Butler said. "The education and experience of being a Holy Cross student-athlete is special, but the group you become a part of for the many years after those initial four is second to none.
"Having an opportunity to partner with the Holy Cross athletic department as they continue to respond to the many changes facing college athletics as a corporate partner for the Mount St. James Collective was a no-brainer. I'm excited not just to be a part of the key fabric supporting Holy Cross student-athletes while they are here, but also creatively unlocking the incredible alumni network that we are all a part of for many years to come. This is much more than a short-term financial vision, and much more about continuing to be a part of the incredible Holy Cross team long after you cross the graduation stage."
Opportunities for student-athletes include, but are not limited to, endorsements, personal appearances, meet-and-greets, internships, charitable work and speaking engagements.
"As we continue to innovate within the constantly evolving world of college athletics, the Mount St. James Collective will allow us to provide best-in-class service to our student-athletes as they make an effort to maximize NIL opportunities," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kit Hughes. "I am grateful for J.R. Butler's partnership and vision for a platform that is both comprehensive and sustainable — two core aspects of our department's vision for the future. This opportunity to serve student-athletes impacted by the realities of the NIL landscape will allow us to not only provide a higher level of service, but also have a positive impact on retaining and graduating Crusaders eager to join Holy Cross' incredible network of alumni around the world."
As with all NIL entities, Mount St. James Collective is independent from the College of the Holy Cross, but is officially recognized by the athletics department and will operate within NCAA, Patriot League, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts parameters to market and manage NIL opportunities for Crusader student-athletes.
NCAA rules allow alumni, fans and other contributors to compensate student-athletes through the Mount St. James Collective, but such compensation:
- may not be considered "pay for play,"
- must be in exchange for services provided by the student-athlete, and
- may not be a recruiting inducement for a student-athlete to enroll or continue to attend Holy Cross
- is not tax deductible
ABOUT MOUNT ST. JAMES COLLECTIVE
The Mount St James Collective was created to help Holy Cross athletes succeed on a new playing field. When college athletes became eligible to benefit from their own name, image and likeness (NIL), several alums and prominent Crusaders donors recognized an opportunity to combine sports industry leaders and put their "collective" experience to use to empower Holy Cross student-athletes to elevate their NIL opportunities — all while allowing them to focus on their academic and athletic responsibilities.
Led by Chris Schoemann, The Mount St James Collective Executive Director, The Mount St. James Collective is bringing creative and innovative opportunities to this new college athletics landscape. Ultimately, Mount St. James Collective's mission is to empower Holy Cross student-athletes to be successful in the brand and marketing landscape, as well as maximize revenue opportunities.
ABOUT SHIFT GROUP
Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals.
The Shift Connect platform accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.
Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS
The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts — the second-largest city in New England — is among the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. Holy Cross is one of a select group of colleges that meets 100% of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need. Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society since its founding in 1843 by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.
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