Pitch Book: The Nico Iamaleava Rule

Restoring structure to college athlete compensation

Purpose of the Rule

Create a structured system that protects the integrity of college sports while fairly compensating athletes.

• Ends the era of unregulated NIL collectives
• Introduces a work-study-style compensation framework
• Ensures oversight through schools, not external boosters
• Respects athlete dignity while encouraging institutional accountability

The Problem We're Solving

NIL collectives have created an unregulated arms race (and they lie to these kids!).

• Boosters control recruiting outcomes (with lies!)
• No salary structure, no compliance, no institutional responsibility
• Schools have no real incentive to develop or retain talent long term
• Student-athletes face public scrutiny for money they didn't negotiate

Rule Mechanics, Pt. 1

Elimination of NIL collectives:

• Booster-run NIL collectives are banned. Relax, they can still throw money around (more on that below)
• Schools regain full responsibility for athlete payments and compliance.

School-administered compensation:

• Athletes are paid directly through a work-study style salary program.
• Salaries are treated as taxable W-2 income.
• Athletes may perform nominal community or promotional work for the school.

Payment floor and salary mediation:

• Minimum salary = full cost of in-state tuition, room, and board.
• Offers above the minimum must be reviewed and approved by an NCAA mediator.
• No mid-contract renegotiations allowed.

Rule Mechanics, Pt. 2

Transfer buyout clause:

• Transfers trigger a buyout equal to 150% of the next two years' compensation.
• Exceptions for hardship or coaching changes reviewed by the NCAA appeals board.

Performance-based escalators:

• Bonuses for athletic or academic performance are allowed if pre-approved.
• Escalators must be set at the time of signing and cannot be renegotiated

External NIL deals:

• Athletes remain free to sign personal NIL deals outside of school salary structures.
• Deals must be disclosed and free of booster coordination.

Oversight and compliance:

• Schools submit annual compensation reports.
• NCAA Compensation Mediation and Oversight Division (CMOD) conducts regular audits focused on institutional, not individual, compliance.

Funding of Athlete Salaries

Because I'm sure some people were wondering…

• Universities may create official athlete compensation funds through their athletic departments.
• Fundraising efforts can be chaired by major boosters but must be operated through the institution itself — not third parties.
• Funds would directly support athlete salaries, educational services, and compliance efforts.
• Oversight stays within the school, ensuring transparency and protecting athletes.
• Details of program structure and examples of best practices will be presented in Part 2: A Framework for Compliance.

Compliance Philosophy

A core tenet of this proposed rule framework is that oversight should fall on institutions — not 18-year-olds!

• Annual school compensation reporting required
• NCAA will audit school records, not student lives
• No "lifestyle audits" of athletes (cars, housing, social media)
• Enforcement is documentation-based, not speculative

Addressing Potential Booster Loopholes

For when a booster tries to woo a potential recruit through a bespoke scholarship program…

• Criteria must be broad and apply to a reasonable pool of students
• Programs designed to benefit only one athlete will be flagged
• CMOD (Compensation Mediation & Oversight Division) has full audit authority
• Keeps booster dollars from being backdoor recruiting tools

This doesn't mean a kid like Bryce Underwood can't get paid a lot – just trying to ensure there is a thought-out process to how that business is conducted

Escalating Institutional Sanctions

Structured accountability — protects athletes, pressures institutions.

First violation

• Penalty: fine equal to 50% of head coach's annual salary

Second violation

• Penalty: 50% scholarship reduction over 4 years
  • Year 1: 5% scholarship reduction
  • Year 2: 10% scholarship reduction
  • Year 3: 15% scholarship reduction
  • Year 4: 20% scholarship reduction
• Scholarships for existing athletes
  • Schools may not revoke existing scholarships from current athletes.
  • Reductions must be absorbed entirely through new recruiting classes.

Third violation

• Penalty: 1-year competitive suspension for the violating program
  • Teams may continue practicing internally.
  • No games, tournaments, or public exhibitions allowed.

The Compensation Mediation and Oversight Division (CMOD) oversees all sanctions, audits, and appeals.

Summary of Benefits

I'm very in favor of paying players for doing a job, which is what is happening. But framing everything around "Name, Image, and Likeness" is not only inaccurate, it's ineffective. We need a fix.