In anticipation of an NCAA court ruling, WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced, on Wednesday, a new organizational structure for the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation (HAF).
NCAA v House, if ruled in favor of the plaintiff, would allow college athletes to be directly paid for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.
The HAF website states the organization is the driving force for WKU Athletics fundraising. The foundation provides scholarships and financial assistance to students who are part of athletics. The foundation also supports WKU Athletics through “private support and visibility.”
NCAA v House was filed in 2020 by Arizona State swimmer Grant House and women’s basketball player Sedona Prince. House and Prince sought to end the revenue sharing of media rights restrictions within the NCAA. The $2.6 billion case currently awaits final ruling by Judge Claudia Wilken.
Kat Smith, former associate athletic director, will serve as the senior associate athletic director of development and ticket sales while continuing her role as executive director. Smith will oversee Griffin Lamb, a new assistant athletic director for major gifts, and Taylor Manning, membership coordinator, a press release stated.
“It is a great honor to have the chance to further engage with our alumni, donors, and WKU community while representing my alma mater,” Smith said in a press release. “I look forward to embracing this role and impacting the lives of student-athletes through development and fundraising.”
Smith will work closely with Stewart and Chief Financial Officer Rob Peterson on revenue strategies, according to the press release.
Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Jim Clark will continue his work with HAF while also taking on NIL responsibilities. His new title is executive senior associate athletic director for development & NIL.
Aaron Epstein and Mason Towery have left HAF for “new opportunities,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications/Marketing Scott Swegan.
Stewart said the new HAF structure will help athletics adapt to the changing world of collegiate sports.
“Kat Smith and Jim Clark have played impactful roles in HAF’s growth, and this new structure will ensure that successful current practices remain while also adapting the department to successfully navigate the new collegiate athletics landscape,” Stewart said in a press release.
Swegan wrote in an email to the Herald that the NCAA v House settlement is the new landscape Stewart mentioned.
“The changes boil down to legislative changes related to NIL & Revenue Sharing that is expected to go into effect this summer nationwide,” Swegan said.
