Terrapins join Opendorse Ready™ to Provide Student-Athletes with Technology and Resources to Prepare for Name, Image, and Likeness Rules Changes
Maryland Athletics announced the launch of MOMENTUM, the school’s new program that focuses on providing student-athletes with enhanced tools and preparation for career success. Maryland is partnering with Opendorse, a national leader in athletic brand solutions, joining the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Readiness program. By teaming with Opendorse, Maryland will provide its student-athletes with the personal brand development resources and management technology used by more than 30,000 athletes worldwide.
“We are excited to partner with Opendorse and unveil our MOMENTUM program here at the University of Maryland,” said Athletic Director Damon Evans. “MOMENTUM will prepare our student-athletes with the resources they need heading into the NIL era. Comprehensive education and preparation are vital for all of our Terrapins as we guide them with career and personal-skill development. Opendorse will provide our student-athletes the opportunity to understand Name, Image and Likeness and receive hands-on assistance to build and amplify their personal brands as we position our Terps for current and long-term success.”
“Opendorse will provide our student-athletes the opportunity to understand Name, Image, and Likeness and receive hands-on assistance to build and amplify their personal brands as we position our Terps for current and long-term success.”
With the announcement of MOMENTUM, Maryland continues to provide platforms and opportunities for its student-athletes to elevate and amplify their voices and personal brands. Over the past year, the department has developed initiatives such as Terrapin Club+, an online streaming video platform that features programming focused on the stories of our student-athletes and staff; One Maryland Magazine, which showcases stories of strength, perseverance, determination and spirit; and increased first-person storytelling via umterps.com and social media with a focus on social injustice, mental health and other societal topics.
“We are extremely excited about the partnership between Maryland and Opendorse,” said Football Coach Michael Locksley. “Maryland is prepared for future NIL legislation and fully invested in building the brands of our student-athletes. We’re committed to educating our athletes and giving them every resource possible to MAXIMIZE their platforms.”
By entering a four-year partnership, Maryland is able to bring Opendorse Ready to every student-athlete on campus, covering all 20 athletic programs. Maryland is among the first 20 athletics programs nationwide to add Opendorse Ready, joining Clemson, Florida, Nebraska, Indiana, and Louisville, among others.
“We are excited about the partnership between Maryland and Opendorse as we position our student-athletes to have the tools they need to build their personal brands and properly leverage future name, image and likeness legislation,” said Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Turgeon.
The program provides three core pillars to student-athlete brand-building success: Assessment, Education, and Performance – tailored to assist each individual student-athlete. Opendorse leveraged its eight-year experience as the leading endorsement management platform for professional athletes to build a program that pairs personalized insights with technology to best-prepare participants to understand, build, and eventually monetize their presence.
“We are thrilled to partner with Opendorse to help our student-athletes make the most of the opportunities in front of them,” said Women’s Basketball Coach Brenda Frese “This will help our student-athletes with the NIL process tremendously. Here at Maryland, we have a phenomenal audience being in this media market. This will help our students set themselves up for success.”
Founded by Nebraska Football alumni Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic, Opendorse has become a proven market leader in helping sports organizations and their athletes prepare and execute social media programs to increase the value of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). More than 30,000 athletes currently use Opendorse to maximize their endorsement value in collaboration with partners on social media. Opendorse has partnered with the NHL, NFLPA, NBPA, PGA Tour and others while brands like Pepsi, Procter & Gamble and EA Sports also use the platform.
“Athletic Director Evans and Maryland Athletics have been a leader of the NIL movement from day-one,” said Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. “The program has embraced change and is working diligently to best-position Maryland student-athletes to find success both during and after their time on campus. Their leadership left no stone unturned to find the best-possible partner for their athletes; I’m incredibly proud and excited to bring Opendorse Ready to every Terrapin.”
