Spry/Accelerate selected to assist CCCAA with Name-Image-Likeness compliance

SACRAMENTO – Spry/Accelerate, whose goal is to help college athletic departments and student-athletes navigate new and evolving name, image and likeness (NIL) laws and regulations, have been selected by the California Community College Athletic Association to assist its 110 member colleges with NIL compliance.

California Senate Bill 26 (SB 26), passed in 2021, requires student-athletes at the state’s universities and colleges to disclose their NIL opportunities and for schools to assist with that compliance. Education is a necessary additional component of the NIL process, which has made headlines across the country in the past year.

Spry joined with Accelerate Sports Ventures to assist the CCCAA navigate and comply with NIL laws and regulations. Spry will handle the necessary app and related disclosure functions while Accelerate will focus on the educational component. Together they’ll provide necessary customer support to help CCCAA schools integrate compliance into their daily operations without the need to hire additional staff.

“Name, image and likeness affects all college student-athletes in California so it was important that CCCAA state office take the lead in helping our member schools fulfill their obligations under the law,” said Executive Director, Jennifer Cardone. “This is an evolving part of college athletics and having experts such as Spry/Accelerate will help keep us ahead of the curve.”

Spry CEO Lyle Adams, echoed those thoughts.

“Collegiate athletics is in the middle of a transformative period due to NIL and SB 26,” he said. “ALL student-athletes now have the opportunity to monetize and profit from their name, image, and likeness. I'm excited to partner with the CCCAA to help their members and the entire student-athlete population navigate this new landscape.”

Spry/Accelerate was selected after a formal RFI process through the Foundation of California Community College’s CollegeBuys program and after review and approval by the CCCAA NIL Evaluation Committee. The process helped secure an affordable solution by negotiating on behalf of all 110 CCCAA schools.

The CCCAA does not have financial interest or incentive with the agreement but is instead acting as a conduit to helping its member schools with NIL compliance.

Spry/Accelerate will help CCCAA member institutions in drafting institutional-specific NIL policies, and will provide dedicated Spry Customer Success representatives to assist with onboarding and training and with 24/7 educational access.

“Accelerate Sports Ventures is elated to partner with the CCCAA to serve their student-athletes and coaches,” said Founder Doug Fillis. “Our one-of-a-kind education and support will be invaluable as student-athletes begin to take advantage of their NIL opportunities.”

Kanoe Bandy, Taft College Athletic Director and CCCAA Management Council Chair, is also excited about the partnership and what it means for CCCAA schools.

“This is a top-to-bottom solution for our schools,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with folks at Spry/Accelerate.  They will help to ensure that our institutions and student-athletes are in compliance with the NIL laws. 

“There is a misconception that NIL doesn’t apply to community college student-athletes, but it does,” Bandy added. “Besides California law requiring all student-athletes to disclose whether or not they have NIL opportunities, we’re hopeful those opportunities find our student-athletes while they’re with us. Additionally, many will move onto the four-year level and we want to help prepare them with critical NIL education.”