University of North Carolina Wilmington Deputy AD/SWA Tiffany Tucker sits down with RealResponse Director of Business Development, Collegiate Athletics Hannah Dewey at the 2023 NACDA Convention to reflect on industry changes from the student-athlete, coach and administrative perspectives. Tucker, a former women’s basketball student-athlete at North Carolina, discusses the impact of social media and NIL on the athlete experience, noting it gives individuals the chance to differentiate themselves as “more than a person in a jersey.” NIL also provides a way to hone soft skills, according to Tucker, including the ability to speak in front of a crowd, answer interview questions or be on camera. For overwhelmed administrators and coaches, Tucker advises leaning on one’s core values as an anchor during tumultuous times for the industry.
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).