Several University of Oregon alumni and donors, including Nike Co-founder Phil Knight, Pat Kilkenny, Ed Maletis, Jim Morse, and the Papé Family, announced the formation of Division Street, Inc., a sports venture that will assist Oregon student-athletes in monetizing their NIL. The venture includes former Nike executives.

According to a press release, the company will help student-athletes create and monetize their brands that enable them to focus on academics and sports.

Leading Division Street will be Rosemary St. Clair, former VP and GM, Nike Women, who will serve as CEO. Rudy Chapa, former VP, sports marketing, Nike, will be Board Chairman.

“Division Street has put together an extremely capable group to deal with the fast-changing landscape of NIL,” Knight said. “Led by Rosemary and Rudy, I am confident they will bring innovation and creativity to this new world.”

“Division Street’s founding strength is the Oregon brand itself, which has always been about innovation, audacity and culture,” St. Clair said. “Our goal, in this chaotic new world of NIL marketing, is to elevate the athlete experience by bringing in leading expertise across brand, marketing, sponsorship, digital, and creative to support all University of Oregon student-athletes, inclusive of every sport and across gender.”

Among the elite team working with Division Street will be Adopt, a company focused on athletes and sports and recently co-founded by Klutch Sports Group founder and CEO Rich Paul. Adopt co-founders and former Nike and Jordan Brand executives Nicole Graham, David Creech and Josh Moore will bring brand, marketing, creative, and digital experience to Division Street’s portfolio. Adopt has enlisted former Oregon wide receiver and former Jordan Brand executive Garren Strong to join the group.

Division Street has partnered with former Oregon basketball player Sabrina Ionescu to serve as chief athlete officer for the company. In this role, she will work as a senior adviser and host quarterly seminars with Oregon student-athletes.

Division Street also announced a collaboration with the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and School of Journalism and Communication as part of the Sport and Wellness Initiative and its newly formed Oregon Accelerator.

Photo courtesy University of Oregon