The college athletics landscape is changing at more rapidly a pace than ever. The current "player empowerment-driven" era, which has allowed players to profit through NIL opportunities and granted them freedom of movement through the transfer portal, has shifted things dramatically, and the policies in place for those issues change seemingly by the month.
And while many fans have expressed their frustrations with such changes, it's the reality we're in, and there's no going back. In fact, we're only moving further towards the professionalization for college sports. By next year, it's incredibly likely that universities will be able to pay student athletes directly through a revenue sharing model.
We're simply in a very different place than we were just a few years ago. And the message has been made very clear for universities and their athletic departments: adapt with the times or be left behind for good.
Mississippi State Athletics Director Zac Selmon has shown he has no interest in his school being left behind.
Since Zac Selmon was hired as AD in January of 2023, he's been deliberate in pushing Mississippi State forward into the modern era of college sports and embracing the changes that have come with it. Along with fan-pleasing branding moves and facility improvements, Selmon has put NIL to the forefront of State's priorities within the athletic department.
Mississippi State's Bulldog Initiative collective has seen exponential growth throughout Selmon's tenure. And he's making vital hires within his department to ensure that MSU's relationship with the Bulldog Initiative continues to strengthen and that State is providing the best opportunities possible for its student athletes.
Last month, State hired Maya Bulger from Washington as an Assistant AD specializing in NIL Administration and Partnerships.
Source: Mississippi State is hiring Maya Bulger as the school's Assistant AD/NIL Administration and Partnerships, which is a newly created role at the school. She last worked at Washington as the Director of football NIL.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 16, 2024
On Friday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that MSU was hiring Missouri's Brandon Lee as their Associate AD for Student Athlete Brand Strategy and Innovation. Both Bulger and Lee held major roles specializing in NIL for major athletic programs prior to coming to Starkville.
Source: Mississippi State is hiring Brandon Lee as Associate AD for Student Athlete Brand Strategy and Innovation. Lee comes from Missouri, where he was Mizzou’s Assistant AD for NIL the last two years. He’s a former Missouri linebacker from 2014-18.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 14, 2024
These are roles that wouldn't have previously existed within in a college athletics department, but now, they're a necessity for anyone serious about remaining competitive in the modern era. And Zac Selmon is making it known that Mississippi State is undoubtedly serious about being as successful as they can possibly be moving forward.
Embracing NIL to the point of having multiple roles specifically devoted to it is not something you would have expected from previous MSU administrations, and it's a sign that Zac Selmon is committed to building a big-time athletics department in Starkville.
Consistently winning at a high level in sports other than baseball has, historically, been challenging at Mississippi State. But rather than saying "it's just too hard to win here, and we have to accept that" (which, again, seemed to be the dominant line of thinking within previous MSU administrations), Selmon has shown no desire to treat his programs like doormats.
He's making the moves that the nation's elite athletic departments would as they attempt to navigate this ever-changing landscape. If you want to have winning programs in the NIL era, this is what you must do, and Zac Selmon is building an athletic department that's committed to winning.