Latest news with #playerretention
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught," he said. "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me," Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state," Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before," he said. "And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' "And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys," Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
Washington Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman , who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught,' he said. 'That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,' Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state,' Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before,' he said. 'And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' 'And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys,' Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught,' he said. 'That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,' Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state,' Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before,' he said. 'And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' 'And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys,' Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Knights boss Peter Parr admits Newcastle may struggle to keep Kalyn Ponga
Newcastle boss Peter Parr concedes the Knights face a battle to retain Queensland Origin star Kalyn Ponga in the face of a potential poaching raid from Mal Meninga's Perth Bears. Meninga will begin building his maiden Bears roster from November 1 and a prime target will be Ponga, who was born in Western Australia – making the Dally M winner the ideal poster boy for a Perth team. The Knights were rocked last week by reports that Ponga had engaged a third-party to explore options in rugby union amid fears he could embark on a code switch to one day represent the All Blacks. But Newcastle bosses believe a bigger threat exists in the NRL, with Ponga set to receive monster offers from the Perth and Papua New Guinea franchises ahead of their entry to the big league in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Ponga is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2027 and would require an early release from Newcastle to be the foundation face of a Perth team. Meninga told this masthead he will be chasing the biggest names in the game and Parr admits Perth – not New Zealand rugby – could be the real threat to keeping the Maroons fullback in Newcastle. 'There's no doubt with the introduction of the new teams that Kalyn would be a target, especially for a Perth team,' Parr said. 'He would be a great marquee signing for a new franchise, but I don't know what the future holds. 'The person who would have a major say in whether Kalyn left early would be me and that won't be happening. He is here for the next two years. 'We will do what we can to keep Kalyn at the club, but we're not naive enough to think that he won't be attractive to a start-up club like Perth or indeed any other NRL club.' As revealed by this masthead last month, Ponga has fielded interest from overseas rugby clubs in France and England, while he has repeatedly been linked with New Zealand rugby because of his Kiwi heritage. But the Knights believe the 27-year-old is reluctant to quit the NRL, which opens the door for Perth and PNG to blow Newcastle out of the water with offers in excess of $1.5 million a season. NRL players with links to Perth are rare and that makes Ponga, born in Port Hedland, the perfect promotional target for a Bears club that will be desperate for a big-name marquee signing. Even if the Knights refused to grant Ponga an early release, he would be available for the Perth Bears second season in 2028, by which time PNG will also enter the market armed with tax-free dollars. Parr says it's Newcastle's preference to secure Ponga to an extended deal, but accepts Meninga's Bears will be circling the Knights skipper, who could earn up to $2 million with a Perth team. 'Our preferred option is to keep Kalyn long-term but with the advent of new teams, I don't think anybody can predict what might happen with the player market,' he said. 'I can't speak for how Kalyn feels about rugby. 'In 2028, there will be a new broadcast deal in place and a new salary cap. 'Kalyn can't negotiate until November next year, so time is on the side of both us and Kalyn. 'Whenever Kalyn comes off contract, my expectation is he will be in demand, whether that's NRL clubs, new franchises in the NRL or rugby union. 'Someone with his talent will always attract attention.' Asked in March, on the eve of round 1, if he had shut the door on rugby, Ponga said: 'I don't know. 'I have things I want to achieve first in the NRL, like winning a premiership, and it will all depend on that. 'To be honest, I don't know if I could even pick the game up again. 'I haven't watched a union game in about 10 years. I played it as a junior and I enjoyed it, but it would be interesting to see if I could do it. 'I don't even know what position I would play. 'It'd be a massive adjustment, but it would be a great challenge.' Meninga said NRL stars such as Ponga and Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo, who has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026, are on his radar. 'We'll be talking to everyone available on the market with my recruitment guy and head of footy,' he said. 'That's part of my role – to get a good footy team together and be competitive from day one. 'I know that's a challenge, so you've got to talk to the best players. 'We'll make sure that we don't leave any stone unturned.' Peter Badel Chief Rugby League Writer Peter Badel is a six-time award winning journalist who began as a sports reporter in 1998. A best-selling author, 'Bomber' has covered five Australian cricket tours and has specialised in rugby league for more than two decades. NRL Cam Munster, Billy Slater and Cam Smith have a special piece in their career which Reece Walsh missed out on - an apprenticeship away from the forensic gaze of the NRL. NRL Jake Clifford has won the battle for scrumbase contracts at the Cowboys - and it is set to deliver a former Australian schoolboys playmaker to the Broncos.
ABC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Zac Hosking: I was sick of being overlooked
Canberra forward Zac Hosking has just signed a new deal at the club and it's a reward for the efforts he's had to put in to make it in 1st Grade. The 28 year old joined Quentin Hull and Billy Moore to explain how he nearly didn't take the opportunity to join Brisbane in 2022 as he was fed up of not being given a chance in 1st grade. He also explained his pride in seeing former Newcastle team mate Gehemat Shibasaki make it as a State of Origin player and how he grew up with Queensland coach Billy Slater as his idol. Plus hear the latest on the player retention plans at the Dolphins from CEO Terry Reader and get some tipping tutelage from Christopher's Corner.
