Beshear signs name, image and likeness bill into law

Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law the name, image, and likeness bill that will allow college students to cash in on their own brand. 

He was flanked by Kentucky’s college coaches, including John Calipari, Northern Kentucky University’s Men’s Basketball Coach Darrin Horn, and Director of Athletics, Ken Bothof. Fellow Northern Kentuckian Jeff Walz, the University of Louisville’s Women’s Basketball coach, also attended. 

“We are known for many things: horse racing, bourbon, and certainly college athletics,” said Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman. “In the next couple of weeks, Kentucky is going to know Kentucky is the center of the basketball universe. But, today, we are here to celebrate the signing of Senate Bill 6.”

Co-sponsored by Senators Morgan McGarvey (D-Louisville) and Max Wise (R-Campbellsville), SB6 will allow college student athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. Like others around the country, Kentucky college athletes can currently profit from their name, image, and likeness due to an executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear and a June NCAA change that suspended NIL rules for student-athletes. 

“It is not paying student athletes to play their sport,” said bill co-sponsor Morgan McGarvey in a committee meeting last month (D-Louisville), elaborating that the bill doesn’t allow athletic departments to pay their students. 

It puts student athletes on the same level as other students across the university who can take advantage of making money in their field, McGarvey said. He gave examples of freelance writing or a musician creating a YouTube channel or giving lessons.

“As Coach Calipari said in his committee testimony, SB 6 is model legislation that other states or even the U.S. Congress should take an interest in,” Wise said. “SB 6 provides flexibility to allow our universities and our collegiate student-athletes to take full advantage of their NIL.”

Ken Bothof, the director of athletics at Northern Kentucky University, and Darrin Horn, the Men’s basketball coach, were both in attendance.

“I think a lot of focus, certainly in this state, has been given to the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville and the larger programs, Power 5, and how their student-athletes can benefit from it,” Bothof said, elaborating that it allows students and staff at NKU to figure how to structure these agreements and how it can impact their future. 

The former Highlands basketball standout and current NKU Guard, Sam Vinson, signed a NIL deal with Fort Thomas Matters before LINK Media acquired it. The deal was the first of its kind for NKU. 

“I think the big thing you heard here today is the opportunity it provides for them that the access is there for them to be able to benefit from it,” Horn said. “What’s great about the bill is it’s not just for Kentucky or Louisville, it’s for every student-athlete in the state of Kentucky, and that includes our guys.”