Former CU Buffs football coach Trevor Reilly turned to Saudi Arabian officials in hopes of securing funding for the school’s NIL collective, as reported by Sports Illustrated. Reilly, who was the special teams coordinator before resigning in August, traveled to the Middle East as a CU representative to pitch the idea to the country’s Public Investment Fund. However, the endeavor proved to be unsuccessful.
In response to the report, CU athletics released a statement distancing themselves from Reilly, stating that he acted on his own accord and is no longer employed by the university. Reilly’s resignation letter mentioned the trip to Saudi Arabia and expressed frustration over the lack of support from CU.
The 5430 Alliance, a merger of two NIL collectives at CU, aims to provide opportunities for donors to support student-athletes in all sports, as well as the football program. Meanwhile, the Public Investment Fund, which has ties to Saudi royalty, has made investments in various sports ventures including golf, soccer, and boxing.
This incident sheds light on the complexities of securing funding for collegiate sports programs and the potential risks involved in reaching out to international entities. It also highlights the growing importance of NIL collectives in supporting student-athletes and the challenges they may face in securing financial support.
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