FORT MYERS, Florida. – As part of a comprehensive Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) platform for the FGCU men’s basketball program, a strategic partnership with the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship has been created, providing a unique educational opportunity. The Institute is housed within the university’s Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship No. 22 and has helped hundreds of student and alumni-owned businesses get started since its inception.
The program will provide world-class experiential mentorship to members of the men’s basketball team, allowing them to apply what they learn in real-time to their NIL options. It is also the centerpiece of the FGCU’s NIL support to the men’s basketball program.
“This is a transformative relationship we’ve established with the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneur-in-Residence,” the head coach said. Pat Chambers. “It goes beyond just helping our student-athletes navigate NIL opportunities – it provides them with an educational opportunity with real-world applications that will empower them for the rest of their lives. We want to help our players succeed for their next 40 years, not just the four they’re on campus.”
The goal of the partnership is to provide the foundation for a student-athlete’s NIL plan. One-on-one interviews will focus on building a personal brand as well as business plans. Mentorship, full support, and entrepreneurial business tools will help accelerate the goals of student-athletes looking to make the most of their opportunities. In addition to the educational opportunities the Institute provides for on-campus students, those involved are also eligible for seed funding to help launch business ventures and have access to the Institute’s Runway program. All students majoring in entrepreneurship are also eligible for scholarships offered through the program.
The Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship has quickly become one of the top programs in the nation with FGCU ranked #22 by the Princeton Review and ranked #1 in Florida State. The school opened Lucas Hall last year – a 27,000 square foot, three-story facility. Since 2016, more than 300 businesses have been started by students taking courses in the program, generating nearly $12.6 million in total gross revenue.
“Having this program at FGCU is a huge benefit for our young people here,” Chambers said. “The Rist Institute and School of Entrepreneurship have amazing mentors our players can work with. We strive to provide our players with this tool and others in the NIL space so they can maximize any opportunities that arise. present to them.”
For complete coverage of FGCU men’s basketball, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_MBB and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to receive news about FGCU men’s basketball and other programs straight to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
EAGLE CAMPAIGN
IT NEEDS A TEAM to achieve our most recent goal – a $10 million campaign to address the needs of student-athletes for continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, strength and conditioning as well as needs of the department for expansion and improvement of facilities as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the goal of the EAGLE – Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence campaign. Join our team and commit your donation today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
COACH ROOMS
Pat Chambers was officially introduced as the FGCU’s fifth men’s basketball head coach in March 2022, bringing a wealth of college basketball experience highlighted by head coaching stints at Penn State and Boston University. Chambers spent nine years as head of the Penn State program (2011-20) and two years as head coach at Boston University (2009-11). He has 190 career wins over that span, including four 20+ seasons. Part of his career as a head coach was highlighted by leading the Nittany Lions to 9th place nationally in 2019-20, which tied the program’s best ranking set in 1996. Before becoming head coach , he spent five seasons as part of the Villanova staff helping the Wildcats to a Final Four (2009), two Elite Eight and three Sweet Sixteen appearances during his tenure.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to contribute, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and use the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT THE FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11 seasons of DI playoff eligibility, the Eagles brought together 45 teams or individuals competing in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men’s golf team became the first program to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have placed in the top 25 nationally in their respective sports, including women’s basketball (#20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (#20, 2022) and men’s soccer (2018, 2019) and women’s football. (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Vert et Bleu posted the department’s best sixth place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors’ Cup and top 100 nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and Florida State’s top seven teams won the NCAA Public Recognition Award for their rate of academic progression in their sport. FGCU also collectively achieved a record 3.50 in-class GPA in the fall 2020 semester and outperformed the general undergraduate college population for 26 consecutive semesters. The last five semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a cumulative team average of 3.0 or higher. The Eagles also served an all-time high of 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two finalists for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
–FGCUATHLETICS.COM–
FORT MYERS, Florida. – As part of a comprehensive Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) platform for the FGCU men’s basketball program, a strategic partnership with the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship has been created, providing a unique educational opportunity. The Institute is housed within the university’s Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship No. 22 and has helped hundreds of student and alumni-owned businesses get started since its inception.
The program will provide world-class experiential mentorship to members of the men’s basketball team, allowing them to apply what they learn in real-time to their NIL options. It is also the centerpiece of the FGCU’s NIL support to the men’s basketball program.
“This is a transformative relationship we’ve established with the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneur-in-Residence,” the head coach said. Pat Chambers. “It goes beyond just helping our student-athletes navigate NIL opportunities – it provides them with an educational opportunity with real-world applications that will empower them for the rest of their lives. We want to help our players succeed for their next 40 years, not just the four they’re on campus.”
The goal of the partnership is to provide the foundation for a student-athlete’s NIL plan. One-on-one interviews will focus on building a personal brand as well as business plans. Mentorship, full support, and entrepreneurial business tools will help accelerate the goals of student-athletes looking to make the most of their opportunities. In addition to the educational opportunities the Institute provides for on-campus students, those involved are also eligible for seed funding to help launch business ventures and have access to the Institute’s Runway program. All students majoring in entrepreneurship are also eligible for scholarships offered through the program.
The Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship has quickly become one of the top programs in the nation with FGCU ranked #22 by the Princeton Review and ranked #1 in Florida State. The school opened Lucas Hall last year – a 27,000 square foot, three-story facility. Since 2016, more than 300 businesses have been started by students taking courses in the program, generating nearly $12.6 million in total gross revenue.
“Having this program at FGCU is a huge benefit for our young people here,” Chambers said. “The Rist Institute and School of Entrepreneurship have amazing mentors our players can work with. We strive to provide our players with this tool and others in the NIL space so they can maximize any opportunities that arise. present to them.”
For complete coverage of FGCU men’s basketball, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_MBB and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to receive news about FGCU men’s basketball and other programs straight to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
EAGLE CAMPAIGN
IT NEEDS A TEAM to achieve our most recent goal – a $10 million campaign to address the needs of student-athletes for continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, strength and conditioning as well as needs of the department for expansion and improvement of facilities as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the goal of the EAGLE – Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence campaign. Join our team and commit your donation today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
COACH ROOMS
Pat Chambers was officially introduced as the FGCU’s fifth men’s basketball head coach in March 2022, bringing a wealth of college basketball experience highlighted by head coaching stints at Penn State and Boston University. Chambers spent nine years as head of the Penn State program (2011-20) and two years as head coach at Boston University (2009-11). He has 190 career wins over that span, including four 20+ seasons. Part of his career as a head coach was highlighted by leading the Nittany Lions to 9th place nationally in 2019-20, which tied the program’s best ranking set in 1996. Before becoming head coach , he spent five seasons as part of the Villanova staff helping the Wildcats to a Final Four (2009), two Elite Eight and three Sweet Sixteen appearances during his tenure.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to contribute, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and use the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT THE FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11 seasons of DI playoff eligibility, the Eagles brought together 45 teams or individuals competing in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men’s golf team became the first program to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have placed in the top 25 nationally in their respective sports, including women’s basketball (#20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (#20, 2022) and men’s soccer (2018, 2019) and women’s football. (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Vert et Bleu posted the department’s best sixth place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors’ Cup and top 100 nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and Florida State’s top seven teams won the NCAA Public Recognition Award for their rate of academic progression in their sport. FGCU also collectively achieved a record 3.50 in-class GPA in the fall 2020 semester and outperformed the general undergraduate college population for 26 consecutive semesters. The last five semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a cumulative team average of 3.0 or higher. The Eagles also served an all-time high of 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two finalists for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
–FGCUATHLETICS.COM–