The ACC commissioner headlined the 2025 Sport Management Symposium, where he addressed key issues in college athletics, including NIL policies, the House v. NCAA settlement, and transfer portal challenges, while advocating for standardized rules and student-athlete development.
A day after attending the recent College Football Playoff meeting in Dallas, where FBS commissioners met to discuss potential changes to the upcoming playoff structure, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips addressed a standing-room-only crowd at Elon University’s Sport Management Symposium.
More than 220 students, faculty, staff and community members crammed into Turner Theatre on Feb. 26 to hear from Phillips, one of the leading voices in the college sports landscape.
For symposium photos, visit the school’s Flickr album.
As part of the symposium’s keynote conversation, Phillips and Assistant Professor of Sport Management Bill Squadron delved into a broad range of topics impacting college athletics, including the implementation of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policies, the upcoming House v. NCAA settlement, and the ongoing challenges of the transfer portal.
Phillips expressed optimism that the House Settlement and new governance structure would create a more level playing field in college sports. He also emphasized the need for standardized rules and a balanced approach to ensure the sustainability of all sports programs, including non-revenue-generating ones.
“As we navigate this transitional period, it is crucial that we maintain the academic mission of college sports while also providing opportunities for student-athletes to thrive both on and off the field,” Phillips said.
Phillips highlighted the challenge of ensuring equity among schools with varying NIL rules and emphasized the need for federal legislation. But the commissioner quickly pointed out that he believes that success in college sports is not solely dependent on money, but rather on the development and education of student-athletes.
“Money doesn’t equate success,” he said. “It just doesn’t. I still believe in coaching. I still believe in development of student-athletes. I do I still believe in education – married with athletics – meaning something to young men and women.”
Phillips also discussed the potential expansion of the college football playoff and the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of student-athletes. In one of his parting pieces of advice, he encouraged students in attendance to stay curious, gain diverse experiences, and build strong professional networks to succeed in the dynamic world of college sports.
After Phillips’ keynote conversation, Ralph Russo, senior college sports writer for The Athletic, moderated an insightful panel exploring the debate over how to fairly distribute the revenue generated by college football. Participating panelists included Chris Helms, executive associate athletic director at Virginia Tech; Joe Hernandez, founder and CEO of Just Win Management Group; and Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics at Elon University.
During the conversation, the panelists highlighted challenges in balancing limited resources, adhering to Title IX, and ensuring equitable distribution of scholarships. The panel emphasized the need for proactive planning, the impact of state-specific NIL laws, and the importance of maintaining academic integrity in college sports.
When asked about the line between college amateurism and professional play, Strawley emphasized the value of a college education and the limited opportunities to play professionally.
“I think the uniqueness of college athletics rests around this tie to academics and this piece of ‘you’re a student’ and ‘you’re an athlete’, and I’m going to fight for that,” she said. “I am not sitting in front of you today if I was not given the opportunities I had in college athletics.”
Additionally, Hernandez noted that student-athletes need to be properly supported and advised in this age of the transfer portal.
“There’s a lot of bad actors in the space,” he said. “Some kids get put in some pretty rough situations and manipulated at the end of the day. It’s really important for the kids to have good representation.”
The symposium concluded with a panel titled “Should FBS Football Separate from the Rest of College Sports?,” discussing the potential pros and cons of the Football Bowl Subdivision branching away from other collegiate athletic offerings. Moderated by Elon alumnus Wes Durham ’88, the panel included Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission, and Nina King, athletic director of Duke University, offering their perspectives.
The panel’s overarching message was that college football needs significant structural and governance reforms to balance athletic success, financial interests, and the educational mission of universities.
While detailing the Knight Commission’s role in prioritizing student-athlete education, health and success, Perko shared a series of slides outlining how revenue is distributed by the NCAA and the College Football Playoff. Shortly thereafter, Perko echoed a widely held belief.
“The power of football is really being the governing principle is what works in the best interest of two conferences and their media partners,” she said.
On a more gradual level, King shared insights into her role at Duke. She discussed the challenges of balancing football success with academic integrity, emphasizing the need to ensure that student-athletes have a holistic experience, including academic success and personal development.