NIL Collective 'Cincy Reigns' Launches Around UC Athletics

Cincinnati is not directly affiliated, but is helping facilitate the operation.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Nov 21, 2022 11:51 AM EST

CINCINNATI — The UC fanbase now has a direct way to monetarily support athletes through Name, Image, and Likeness ventures.

Longtime Cincinnati fan and local lawyer Brian Fox has headed up a NIL collective called "Cincy Reigns" which will directly support UC student-athletes in all sports.

The two arms of the organization involve donations from fans, which will then go to athletes after they contribute charitable efforts in various ways throughout the city. The other half involves Reigns operating as an LLC to help facilitate direct deals between companies and student-athletes.

This is about as official as it gets in the NIL world, allowing athletic director John Cunningham to comment on it.

“I always felt like there was a path for me to speak about it,” Cunningham said to On3. “I felt like that was within the rules but it was great to have that clarification because we weren’t 100% sure, so we want to make sure we’re on the right side of all the NCAA guidelines.”

Fox is excited to have the process take another step forward and told The Athletic he feels like the right voice for this venture.

“In order for UC’s student athletes and programs to thrive in the new NIL landscape predominant throughout college athletics, we must create a vibrant and robust financial ecosystem for our coaches and players,” Fox, Chair of the Cincy Reigns Board of Directors, said in press release. “We are calling on all Bearcats supporters to get involved with Cincy Reigns to elevate the NIL opportunities for our student-athletes, so we can compete among the best on and off the field.”

The operation pushes UC further into the new age of college sports and should keep them competitive on all recruiting trails as they head into the Big 12.

Check out On3's story for more details.

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