Michigan State is adding a familiar face to its NIL-focused staff. Jon Dykema is the new executive senior associate athletic director, student-athlete management and assistant general counsel for the Spartans. In layman’s terms, he will oversee NIL contracts, partnerships and media rights.
And while Dykema is new to the position, he’s not new to MSU. Dykema served as a student manager for the men’s basketball team back in 2000, and he graduated from MSU in 2003. Most recently, Dykema worked for the Detroit Lions as lead football counsel, reviewing contracts.
Alan Haller, MSU athletic director, told the Detroit Free Press, “With the constant evolution in college athletics and revenue sharing on the horizon, this is an incredibly important hire for Michigan State athletics. Jon brings a wealth of experience working with contracts and the salary cap at the NFL level, where he has played an important role behind the scenes in the Detroit Lions’ success. He will be a great resource to Spartan coaches and administrators as we navigate our new landscape.”
Since the legalization of NIL in college sports, MSU has been “doing (very) well in their formal program funding.” However, student-athletes’ individual contracts have quickly become the bread and butter of NIL earnings, and the addition of Dykema could signal MSU’s commitment to ensuring its star athletes get the best deals.
Coming soon is also the beginning of revenue sharing with student-athletes. As a part of the Big Ten, it is expected that MSU will spend roughly $20 million in revenue sharing, and Dykema will play a role in the new process.
According to MSU Spartans News, Dykema is “expected to work collaboratively with MSU coaches, administrators and student-athletes to understand their needs and provide effective contract solutions, while also ensuring compliance with recent legal rulings and NCAA regulations.
