Athlete Opportunity Intelligence: Measuring Career Readiness Six weeks ago, we started making a case one piece at a time. Athletes already have real networks — coaches, teammates, alumni — but rarely learn how to turn them into opportunity. Experience compounds before graduation, and right now it isn’t distributed evenly. Ownership of career readiness is split
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On July 1, 2021, college athletics entered a new era. For the first time, NCAA student-athletes could profit from their Name, Image and Likeness. The NIL Era transformed college sports almost overnight — a new economy built around endorsement deals, collectives, the transfer portal, revenue sharing, recruiting battles and athlete compensation. Those stories have
The NIL Era Solved the Wrong Problem Read More »
This episode features an inspiring story of two young athletes who turned their passion for sports—specifically tennis—into an innovative business solution. Through their experiences, Max Rusakov and Calum Kuhn recognized a critical gap in the market: athletes were signing contracts they didn’t fully understand. That realization led them to build a platform designed to
Industry Insiders: Interview with Max Rusakov & Calum Kuhn Read More »
I just recorded a short four-minute episode sharing what we’re doing at The Players NIL through our Unlocking Influence Cohort — a program designed to empower student-athletes and business-minded students to take control of their future. In this episode, I discuss what I’ve learned from students who don’t yet have a LinkedIn profile, and
Just Thinking: Unlocking Influence – Building a Roadmap to Your Future Read More »
On this week’s episode, we’re joined by someone who truly understands the art — and the heart — of communication. Caitlin Gardner is the founder of Blooming Communications and currently leads storytelling, reputation management, and brand strategy for one of the most respected adventure travel companies in the world. Her career spans two decades
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In this episode, we sit down with Jonathon Stern, founder of Rally, to explore the powerful crossroads of sports, celebrity, and community. A lifelong sports fan from Southern California, Jonathon shares how his passion for the game has fueled his career and shaped his vision for empowering athletes and fans alike. From his early
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PlayersOnly Partners with The Players NIL to Launch Unlocking Influence, Empowering Athletes to Own Their Brands Beyond the Game LOS ANGELES, CA | September 16, 2025 – PlayersOnly, the all-in-one, AI-powered platform built to power the future of the sports industry, today announced an official partnership with The Players NIL, the nation’s premier educational program
When the NIL era began, the floodgates opened. Companies rushed in, chasing opportunities—but most focused on making money from athletes rather than investing in them. Education was promised, but too often it was tied to selling a platform or taking commissions that exceeded 20%. What was missing? Real guidance on financial health, mental well-being,
Just Thinking: Through the First Four Years of the NIL Era Read More »
We are thrilled to welcome Fiona Green, Founder and CEO of ProDataStack, an AI-supported software platform empowering professional athletes with control and access to their own data. Fiona is also the Founder and CEO of Winners, a leading CRM and data consultancy in the sports industry. In our conversation, Fiona shares why—despite not being
Industry Insiders: Interview with Fiona Green Read More »
🎙️ “Today on The Players NIL, Industry Insiders podcast, we’re joined by one of the most influential voices in the recruiting and career development world—Jeff Martin. Jeff is the CEO and founder of the Jeffrey Agency, a premier nationwide recruiting firm trusted by Fortune 100 and 500 companies, as well as public figures and
Industry Insiders: Interview with Jeff Martin Read More »
The Five-Pillars Course is now available!
Enroll by August 31, 2022 and get it for only $525 (Reg. price $585).
Use code tpnil60 on the checkout page to redeem.
We can’t wait to help you build a brighter future.
Please note: The Players NIL Five-Pillars Course is currently available for purchase and the first Pillar module is live and can be accessed today! Each subsequent Pillar module will be released in the coming weeks according to our release schedule:
Pillar 1: Personal Brand Development
Available now!
Pillar 2: Influencer & Brand Relations
Available now!
Pillar 3: Legal, Tax, and Compliance
Available now!
Pillar 4: Philanthropy and Community Service
Available now!
Pillar 5: Financial Literacy
August 9, 2022
Let’s get started today!
We can’t wait to help you build a brighter future.
Welcome. I’m Mark Koesterer, founder of The Players NIL, and I have a deep passion for this work. My background includes a long and extensive relationship with the sporting industry. As a former college athlete, I have first hand experience navigating the collegiate world. As a father of college athletes, I was actively involved with supporting the requirements needed to compete at the highest level, while maintaining focus on broader life goals. As the president and CEO of Sports Studio, I helped build a successful Hollywood sports and entertainment company.
At Sports Studio, I interacted with athletes, brands, production companies, professional sports leagues, and agents. All of this gave me expert-level experience in digital marketing, branding, production, group licensing, sponsorship, influencer marketing, apparel design and production, and fan engagement.
It’s ALL of this collective experience that I offer, while bringing you a premier level of service that will help you reach your goals. If you would like to learn how to build your brand and maximize your NIL potential, contact me today.
The Players NIL is built for YOU.