Hawaii’s national title-winning volleyball team a positive example of NIL

Much has been written about the NIL’s impact on college sports and on the recruiting trail. Yet, even with all the whirlwind of negative that’s surrounded the subject in the last 48 hours, there are some positive storylines created by NIL.

The national championship-winning University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team is a perfect example. The Rainbow Warriors swept Long Beach State last Saturday to win their second straight national championship.

The Rainbow Warriors were “showered with Aloha” when they celebrated their back-to-back national championships with thousands of fans in downtown Honolulu Tuesday. And that passion for Hawaii volleyball is paying off with NIL deals for star players.

Selfies and autographs with the two-time National Champs @HawaiiMensVB . Thank you Alakai Todd, Chaz Galloway, and Max Rosenfeld for joining @KanoaLeahey during our live ESPN Honolulu broadcast!#HawaiiMVB #BackToBack #NCAAmvb #GoBows #WarriorBall22 pic.twitter.com/AdHCXQCeWb

— ESPN Honolulu (@ESPNHonolulu) May 20, 2022

NIL generates income for student-athletes not on full scholarship

“The men’s volleyball team has become the most profitable NIL team on the university-wide campus,” RKT Media President & CEO Ryan Kalei Tsuji told KHON 2 News in Honolulu. “I think because of their visibility, the success that they have, obviously as back-to-back national championships, make them very marketable and brands want to work with that. I think it’s evident when you saw people waiting for hours to get their autographs and photos with them.”

RKT Media works with more than 20 student-athletes. This includes middle blocker Guilherme Voss. He’s done NIL partnership ads with Off the Hook Poke Market and Uniqlo Hawaii on social media.

“I think the highest-paid athletes that we’ve worked with, have probably made about $10,000 in a year,” Tsuji told KHON 2 News. “So pretty good for the first year but it all can range from $200 to $1,000s. It really just depends on how willing the athletes themselves are also wanting to get out there.”

No, it’s not the million-dollar deals that rocked the college football world. But it’s still rather significant for the student-athletes involved. That’s especially true in men’s volleyball, where players on average receive between only 10 to 15% of a full-ride scholarship. According to the UH, the men’s volleyball team split 4.5 full scholarships across their roster of 23 players.

“NIL is so new that there is a college learning curve about what you are learning,” Tsuji told KHON 2 News. “What is permitted? What is not? And then the athletes themselves learn how to utilize names, images and portraits. I really sell it.”