In today’s March Newsletter you can expect:

• MyCoachingTree App Revolution: MyCoachingTree launches groundbreaking mobile update, offering AI-powered mentorship and unprecedented networking opportunities for professional coaches.

• Spring Game Disruption: College football programs nationwide cancel traditional spring events, with coaches like Matt Rhule citing transfer portal concerns and strategic secrecy.

• NIL Expansion: Montana becomes latest state to allow high school athletes to profit from Name, Image, and Likeness, continuing nationwide trend of recognizing athlete economic rights.

• College Football Management Shift: Programs hire first-ever general managers with NFL-style roles, transforming athletic departments in preparation for revenue sharing and player payments.

Major Update to MyCoachingTree App!

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More New App Features:

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Extensive Coaching Resource Library

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Major Shift in College Football

College football's spring game tradition appears to be waning as several prominent programs have recently announced plans to cancel or significantly modify these fan-favorite events.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule made headlines when he canceled his team's spring game, which typically draws over 60,000 fans. Rhule cited concerns about player poaching, noting that last year's televised event led to "a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities." Since then, powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Texas, USC, and NC State have followed suit, each with their own rationale.

While transfer portal concerns are a factor for some schools, others cite different reasons. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian pointed to player workload after two lengthy seasons, while USC mentioned injury risks and financial priorities. NC State coach Dave Doeren is keeping practices closed to avoid revealing new offensive and defensive schemes under incoming coordinators.

Florida State's cancellation stems from stadium renovations, though coach Mike Norvell suggested a broader trend: "I would assume that you're going to see less and less spring games just because of that part of it... You go play a spring game and put whatever information you want out there, and that's going to help somebody that you're playing against."

Some schools are planning alternative fan events. Nebraska's athletic director indicated they'll host something on April 26, while Ohio State has announced a "Spring Showcase" on April 12.

As the college football landscape continues to evolve with transfer portal dynamics and extended seasons, this longtime tradition may increasingly become a casualty of the sport's changing realities.

Montana HS Athletes Can Now Profit from NIL

In a significant development for student-athletes across Montana, the Montana High School Association (MHSA) has approved an amended bylaw allowing high school athletes to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for the first time. This decision, which passed with the required two-thirds majority at Monday's annual meeting in Billings, now awaits approval from the 2025 Montana Legislature.

Montana joins 38 other states that have already implemented NIL policies for high school athletes while preserving their amateur status. The new rules prohibit athletes from involving their schools in NIL activities – they cannot use school venues, wear school-branded apparel, or use practice and game footage. Additionally, schools and related organizations like booster clubs cannot distribute compensation.

MHSA executive director Brian Michelotti acknowledged that while only a small number of "high-profile" student-athletes may initially benefit, the policy provides important opportunities for these "rare kids" while implementing safeguards based on successful models from other states.

Part of a Nationwide Shift

Montana's decision reflects a broader national movement toward recognizing student-athletes' rights to benefit from their personal brand. Since the NCAA's landmark NIL policy change in 2021, the concept has rapidly trickled down to high school athletics.

This evolution represents a fundamental shift in how we view amateur athletics. Where once the concept of "amateurism" meant student-athletes couldn't receive compensation beyond scholarships, today's approach recognizes that preventing athletes from monetizing their personal brand while others profit from their performance is increasingly viewed as outdated.

For young athletes in Montana with significant followings or exceptional talent, this change opens doors to sponsorship deals, endorsements, and social media opportunities that were previously off-limits. It also provides valuable early experience in personal branding and financial management that can benefit students regardless of whether they continue athletic careers after high school.

As this trend continues nationwide, high school athletic departments, coaches, and parents will need to navigate this new landscape carefully to ensure opportunities remain fair and educational values stay at the forefront of school sports programs.

New Landscape Leads to CFB General Managers

In a dramatic shift reshaping college football, programs across the country are racing to hire general managers with skillsets once reserved for NFL front offices. Last week, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin praised his GM Billy Glasscock for "putting everything together" while warning of "outrageous prices" coming to the transfer portal as revenue sharing looms.

What began as positions focused on traditional recruiting has evolved rapidly. Today's college football GMs are commanding impressive salaries and wielding significant influence. Alabama's Courtney Morgan tops the list with a three-year contract worth nearly $2.47 million, while other programs are poaching talent with six-figure deals and buyouts.

The trend reached new heights when Stanford announced former star quarterback Andrew Luck as their GM, with responsibilities spanning coach management, roster decisions, and business operations.

"It used to take a village," Texas A&M coach Mike Elko noted. "Now it takes an army."

This evolution comes as athletic departments prepare for the introduction of direct player payments through NIL benefits. Oklahoma has even hired former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson to oversee implementation of the House settlement payments and restructure their football operations "with elements similar to professional sports teams."

Buffalo coach Pete Lembo, whose son chose a personnel career over coaching, summed up the transformation: "I'm very grateful that I got a business degree from Georgetown because this is becoming a lot less about X's and O's."

As college football inches closer to its professional counterparts, the GM position stands at the center of this seismic shift – managing contracts, navigating salary caps, and building championship-caliber rosters in an increasingly complex landscape.