(Louisville, Ky. and Lincoln, Neb. – January 27, 2025) – Eagles Nest Collective, the Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) collective supporting Spalding University student-athletes, today launched its operations to provide resources, mentorship, and monetization opportunities for the Golden Eagles.
Eagles Nest Collective is among the first NIL collectives supporting athletes from an NCAA Division III institution in the country. More information on Eagles Nest can be found at eaglesnestnil.com.
Founded by Jake Wardrip, the Louisville-based real estate leader and former Spalding Baseball student-athlete, Eagles Nest will focus on community engagement and long-term professional development of athletes.
“Starting a collective with Spalding University has always been the ultimate goal since I began partnering with athletes in March of 2022,” Wardrip said. “I’m thrilled to collaborate with local partners in my network to create opportunities and experiences for these athletes that they might not otherwise have access to. This is also a deeply personal journey for me, as it gives me the chance to give back my time and efforts to the university that has played such a significant role in my life.”
As part of its robust operating model, Eagles Nest has partnered with Opendorse as its operations partner, leveraging the leading NIL platform and services company to streamline the process for all parties – athletes, administrators, supporters, and collective leadership.
“We are excited for the launch of the Eagles Nest and the opportunities it will provide for our student-athletes,” said Spalding University Athletic Director Brian Clinard. “NIL collectives are rare in Division III and this is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to grow through experiential learning while navigating NIL with trusted partners. We’re very appreciative of the Eagles Nest and our partners at Opendorse for their service to Spalding’s student-athletes.”
Eagles Nest’s partnership with Opendorse provides a full suite of start-up resources, including collaborative website building, logo creation, platform onboarding and education, and on-demand support.
“Jake and the Eagles Nest team are innovators, early-movers in the DIII athletics space,” said Opendorse Co-Founder & President, Collegiate Operations Blake Lawrence. “They are providing best-in-class tools for their student-athletes and staff. The Spalding market going all in with Opendorse will create a streamlined, efficient model for all.”
Businesses, donors, and community members are invited to partner with Eagles Nest to support the next generation of athletes. Whether through sponsorships, event collaborations, or mentorship opportunities, there are countless ways to make a meaningful impact.
About Opendorse
Opendorse is the leading athlete marketplace and NIL company, providing technology and services to the athlete endorsement industry. More than 130,000 athletes use Opendorse to build and monetize their name, image and likeness with support from hundreds of colleges and thousands of brands, fans, donors, and partners including Team USA, LEARFIELD, Keller Williams, and more.
For media inquiries, contact Opendorse VP, Collegiate Services & Marketing Julian Valentin at julian.valentin@opendorse.com. Visit eaglesnestnil.com to connect with Jake Wardrip and the Eagles Nest team.
