Mike Walsh, 2023 Innovation Award Finalist
Mike Walsh Leads Boise State Athletics to Name, Image & Likeness Success with Innovative In-House Agency
Boise State Athletics has been at the forefront of Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) initiatives for student-athletes, setting themselves apart from their peers. They created an in-house agency led by Mike Walsh, at Boise State, to optimize individual endorsements and group licensing opportunities for their student-athletes. This program, which provides advocacy, content, and education, is streamlined to bring value to every eligible student-athlete, regardless of their individual approach to NIL.
Under Walsh’s leadership, Boise State won the Best Institutional Program award at the 2022 NIL Summit, beating out Power Five heavyweights such as Ohio State and Michigan. The Broncos have also achieved a 98% opt-in rate for the Boise State NIL Agreement, a voluntary, non-exclusive agreement that has allowed for a number of first-of-its-kind partnerships, including personalized jersey shirts and trading card sets. Walsh’s innovative approach and exceptional efforts mark him as a trailblazer in the NIL space.