Penn State wrestling: Ex-Nittany Lions wrestler named first NIL Director

Penn State wrestling has found the man it wants to take over the program’s responsibilities related to NIL. Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions are set to add former letterman Clay Steadman as the program’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Director, a first-of-its-kind position created in May.

“I am thrilled to join the Penn State wrestling staff and help our team achieve their goals,” Steadman wrote on LinkedIn Monday. Steadman most recently served as a Strategic Account Director for Philips.

Clay Steadman arrived at Penn State for the 2007-08 season. He was a one-time Big Ten qualifier before injuries cut his competitive wrestling career short. He previously worked for the university as a color commentator for the Penn State wrestling radio broadcast team during the 2013-14 season.

Steadman’s new job will be to provide administrative support for NIL fundraising and educational efforts. He will also work on building relationships with donors and generating gifts, pledges, and donations, among other tasks.

Penn State wrestling setting the pace in competitive NIL landscape

Cael Sanderson has turned Penn State wrestling into one of the most dominant programs in college sports. The Nittany Lions have won 11 of the past 13 National Championships, including three consecutive titles.

However, the landscape of college athletics has drastically changed since the NCAA allowed student-athletes to earn NIL income in the summer of 2021. The ability of student-athletes to generate revenue has become a major, and sometimes decisive, factor in high school and transfer portal recruiting battles.

Wrestling has been no different, with the top programs in the country, like Penn State, Iowa, and Oklahoma State, already pouring large amounts of money into NIL.

Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State wrestling appears to have one of the country’s best NIL programs and Olympic training clubs. Those, combined with the Nittany Lions’ on-mat success, are a powerful recruiting tool for Cael Sanderson.

Carter Starocci has boldly stated that he is the highest-paid college wrestler in the country heading into his final season. The NLWC has four of the six Paris Olympic qualifiers. That doesn’t even include Roman Bravo-Young, who is competing in the Summer Games for Mexico.

Yet despite all the success, Sanderson recognized that the program must continue to evolve to stay on top. It is only a matter of time before the other top powers in the sport follow the Nittany Lions’ lead and create similar NIL-dedicated positions.

Programs like the Hawkeyes and Cowboys have already been able to successfully tap into their large and passionate donor bases, meaning Penn State needs to continue to find ways to win on the margins and keep its top rivals at bay.

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