New Gaels Nation NIL Collective Helps Iona University Student-Athletes Attract Endorsements, Accelerate Career and Personal Growth
It’s all about I-O-N-A: Impact, Opportunity, Navigation, Access!
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Coast to coast and around the world, the business of college sports is booming. Now, Iona University student-athletes have an exciting new way to capitalize on the momentum.
Following a recent NCAA policy change that opened the door for student-athletes to accept endorsements and financial compensation for use of their “Name, Image and Likeness” (NIL), a group of Iona alumni have come together to form the new Gaels Nation NIL collective.
The Gaels Nation NIL collective works closely with Iona student-athletes as they explore endorsement opportunities and work to achieve their career aspirations and personal growth. For instance, student-athletes can now receive financial compensation for endorsing a product, brand or business, as well as for attending a corporate function, community gathering or making other personal appearances. Paid opportunities could be in person, online or via social media.
Corporate partners who have committed to supporting the Gaels Nation NIL collective and working with Iona’s student-athletes include 12 Dunkin’ franchises throughout Westchester County owned by Dan Chiaravalle ’95; and Professional Physical Therapy, the official physical therapy provider for Iona University Athletics and the leading provider of outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation services throughout the New York-metropolitan area.
Beyond an endorsement or event, there are even more ways to be part of the excitement! From recurring memberships to one-time contributions in support of a team or student-athlete, both businesses and individuals are invited to explore what’s possible. Learn more about the Gaels Nation NIL collective at www.GaelsNation.com or email contact@gaelsnation.com today!
IT’S ALL ABOUT I-O-N-A!
The Gaels Nation NIL collective is spearheaded by James P. Oates ’95 and Michael P. Beckerich ’72, along with Advisory Board members Matt Rizzetta ’05 and Bob DeLuccia ’67, ’79MBA. The guiding principles of the Gaels Nation NIL collective are all about I-O-N-A:
- IMPACT: Providing Iona student-athletes with purposeful engagements that have a positive impact on communities and engage with Gaels Nation NIL supporters in meaningful ways.
- OPPORTUNITY: Providing financial resources and endorsement opportunities that enable Iona student-athletes to accelerate their career growth and maximize their personal value as a Gael.
- NAVIGATION: Providing individual guidance to help Iona student-athletes navigate the complex world of NIL opportunities to ensure they make well-informed decisions that not only benefit their potential professional aspirations but also their long-term personal goals.
- ACCESS: Providing Iona student-athletes with unique experiences and access to networks, relationships and educational programs that optimize their opportunities, including access to leading-edge offerings available at Iona such as the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program.
“The energy and generosity of the Iona alumni community have once again come together to provide Iona students with a meaningful opportunity,” said James P. Oates ’95. “The Gaels Nation NIL collective is proud to help pave the way toward growth for our student-athletes, enabling them to network, advance their careers and set themselves up for continued success both on and off the field of play.”
The Gaels Nation NIL collective is supported by Oncoor Marketing, a sports agency that bridges the gap between athletes and brands and is a leader in the emerging collegiate name, image, and likeness (NIL) space. Gaels Nation NIL also uses the resources of Opendorse, a leading NIL company, providing technology services in the athlete endorsement industry. Notably, the Gaels Nation NIL collective keeps operating costs at a minimum, ensuring as much financial compensation as possible goes directly toward supporting Iona’s student-athletes and/or teams.
Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., offered his thanks to the alumni supporters and sponsors who are spearheading the effort on behalf of Iona’s student-athletes, saying: “The dedication of the Iona alumni community is second to none. The new Gaels Nation NIL collective will help to foster collaborative opportunities for our student-athletes to engage with the community in meaningful ways, grow their personal brands, expand their networks and gain invaluable guidance from Iona alumni who care deeply about their success. My thanks to everyone involved.”
Iona Athletics Director Matt Glovaski also offered congratulations, adding that the Gaels Nation NIL collective continues to set Iona apart: “The spirit, community and enthusiasm surrounding Iona’s Athletics programs is truly remarkable and only continues to grow. Working closely with leading coaches such as men’s basketball head coach Tobin Anderson and many others, we continue to make Iona University a top destination for student-athletes across the country and around the world. The Gaels Nation NIL collective adds an integral and important new component to support our efforts.”
IONA ON THE RISE
Iona boasts 23 Division I Athletics teams, including its two newest programs, men’s lacrosse and women’s acrobatics & tumbling.
Iona is especially renowned for its men’s basketball program, the winningest team in the New York-metropolitan area for over 25 years, including a league record 14 MAAC tournament titles and 16 NCAA tournament appearances. This past season, both the Iona men’s and women’s basketball teams won the MAAC championship and competed in the NCAA tournament. Iona is eager to keep the momentum going with men’s head coach Tobin Anderson and women’s head coach Angelika Szumilo at the helm.
Learn more, get involved and be part of the momentum of the Gaels Nation NIL collective today!
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ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.