Courtesy of MSU Athletics:
Michigan State athletics strengthened an already robust NIL support system with the announcement of restructuring within the department, allowing two individuals to focus a majority of their efforts on Name, Image & Likeness. Darien Harris has been named Assistant AD/NIL & Special Advisor to the Athletic Director, providing leadership in oversight and continued evolution of Michigan State Athletics' award-winning NIL program, EverGreen. Alex Breske, who holds the title of Assistant AD/Risk Management & Policy, will expand her role and reach within the EverGreen program, focusing on compliance and legislative efforts.
Harris will spearhead the continued evolution of a best-in-class NIL model under the umbrella of the EverGreen program that is a resource for all student-athletes. He will serve as the primary NIL contact for internal and external stakeholders, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, corporate partners, collectives and local businesses in accordance with applicable university, state, federal and NCAA guidelines. He will champion strategic partnerships and resources to ensure the best possible NIL support for all of Michigan State's student-athletes, while continuing the build on the educational support which is already considered the industry standard.
Breske, who recently testified before the Michigan House Higher Education Committee on NIL, will serve to engage and educate stakeholders on NIL policies and procedures, while also working to ensure the NIL activities of Spartan student-athletes are in compliance with NCAA and institutional policy as well as state law.
Michigan State athletics launched the EverGreen NIL program in June 2021 to equip student-athletes with all the tools to navigate the name, image and likeness space, including student-athlete branding, student-athlete development and financial education. This past June, EverGreen was selected as the Best Institutional Program at the 2023 NIL Summit in Atlanta. The award recognizes an institution that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities through a combination of education, resources and industry-leading innovation.
"From the beginning, Michigan State has been committed to providing the resources to allow all of our student-athletes to maximize their NIL opportunities," said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "As the NIL landscape, including legislation and NCAA guidance, continues to evolve, it became imperative to create a position which will allow us to adjust quickly and continue being on the forefront of the issue nationally.
"As a former student-athlete himself, Darien Harris has a passion for assisting our students and helping them make the most out of their collegiate experience. He's been a part of our department's NIL committee from the outset and was exceptional in assisting the football team as they navigated the implementation of NIL over the first two seasons. I'm excited to watch him grow in this role, allowing us to strategically develop a department-wide approach."
Beyond his NIL responsibilities, Harris will serve as Special Advisor to the Athletic Director.
"Darien is well respected within the University and our Spartan community," added Haller. "I value his insight and am looking forward to working closely with him on a number of projects to help move our department forward."
Harris spent more than three seasons on staff with the Spartan football program, where his wide-ranging duties included NIL education for football. He was a member of MSU's NIL committee, which developed the EverGreen program, and served as the football liaison to work with Advance (Anomaly Sports Group and TeamAltemus) on financial education. He was instrumental in the partnership between Spartan Athletics and the Michigan State University Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which educated student-athletes on how to sharpen their entrepreneurial mindset, master business basics and learn the process of creating new ventures. Additionally, Harris has served as host for MSU's two innovative NIL events: the NIL Business Summit and NIL Awards Celebration.
"I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to advocate and service all of our student-athletes while continuing to keep Michigan State one of the leaders in the NIL landscape," said Harris. "Our focus as a department will be on giving our student-athletes the best resources and education on NIL and progress our award-winning EverGreen program forward with new initiatives and opportunities for the entire department, donors, alumni and fans."
Breske has been with MSU athletics for nearly eight years since first arriving on campus in October 2015, joining MSU's Office of Compliance Services as a compliance coordinator. A member of the State Bar of Michigan, she'll be able to collaborate with the Office of General Counsel and Government Relations to identify policy needs as well as implement necessary changes.
"Alex brings a unique skill set to our NIL team where her legal acumen and expertise will strengthen and enhance our overall program structure and approach," stated Haller. "Her athletics tenure and institutional knowledge will truly bode well for our student-athletes, constituency groups, and various stakeholders which she will interact."
"I am extremely grateful to Alan Haller and Jennifer Smith for this opportunity and the continued ability to serve our student-athletes and the Spartan Athletics family," said Breske. "With the collegiate athletics landscape everchanging, I look forward to ensuring that Michigan State Athletics is well-positioned for the future. I'm excited to partner with Ashton Henderson and Darien Harris as we continue to provide an industry-leading experience for our student-athletes and celebrate their on- and off-field successes."
A former captain on the 2015 Big Ten Football Championship team that reached the College Football Playoff, Harris was a four-year letterwinner for the Spartans from 2011-15, starting two seasons at Star (weakside) linebacker. He was voted a co-captain by his teammates in 2015 and was a part of the winningest senior class at MSU with 43 victories. Harris collected 154 tackles, including 13 for losses (28 yards), in 54 career games with 25 starts; the 54 career games played is tied for the most of any Spartan player in a four-year span in Michigan State history.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2015 and his master's degree in marketing research in 2019. He joined the Spartan football staff, beginning as the Director of Player Engagement and transitioning to Director of Player Relations and Program Advancement in 2022, with duties including player development, alumni engagement, university outreach, community service, and NIL education to current football student-athletes.
Breske, who previously held the title of Director of Compliance/Equity, Monitoring & Technology before being promoted to Assistant AD in 2022, is the primary compliance coordinator for the football program. She monitors the university's athletics programs to ensure compliance with all aspects of NCAA rules and regulations, providing NCAA rules interpretations, and waiver processing. In addition to her compliance roles, Breske is also responsible for ensuring the university's athletics programs are in compliance with Title IX and federal guidelines as they pertain to gender equity.
Breske received her undergraduate degree in political science from Millikin University. She earned her master's degree in kinesiology (sport administration) from Michigan State University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University – Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Michigan State athletics strengthened an already robust NIL support system with the announcement of restructuring within the department, allowing two individuals to focus a majority of their efforts on Name, Image & Likeness. Darien Harris has been named Assistant AD/NIL & Special Advisor to the Athletic Director, providing leadership in oversight and continued evolution of Michigan State Athletics' award-winning NIL program, EverGreen. Alex Breske, who holds the title of Assistant AD/Risk Management & Policy, will expand her role and reach within the EverGreen program, focusing on compliance and legislative efforts.
Harris will spearhead the continued evolution of a best-in-class NIL model under the umbrella of the EverGreen program that is a resource for all student-athletes. He will serve as the primary NIL contact for internal and external stakeholders, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, corporate partners, collectives and local businesses in accordance with applicable university, state, federal and NCAA guidelines. He will champion strategic partnerships and resources to ensure the best possible NIL support for all of Michigan State's student-athletes, while continuing the build on the educational support which is already considered the industry standard.
Breske, who recently testified before the Michigan House Higher Education Committee on NIL, will serve to engage and educate stakeholders on NIL policies and procedures, while also working to ensure the NIL activities of Spartan student-athletes are in compliance with NCAA and institutional policy as well as state law.
Michigan State athletics launched the EverGreen NIL program in June 2021 to equip student-athletes with all the tools to navigate the name, image and likeness space, including student-athlete branding, student-athlete development and financial education. This past June, EverGreen was selected as the Best Institutional Program at the 2023 NIL Summit in Atlanta. The award recognizes an institution that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities through a combination of education, resources and industry-leading innovation.
"From the beginning, Michigan State has been committed to providing the resources to allow all of our student-athletes to maximize their NIL opportunities," said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "As the NIL landscape, including legislation and NCAA guidance, continues to evolve, it became imperative to create a position which will allow us to adjust quickly and continue being on the forefront of the issue nationally.
"As a former student-athlete himself, Darien Harris has a passion for assisting our students and helping them make the most out of their collegiate experience. He's been a part of our department's NIL committee from the outset and was exceptional in assisting the football team as they navigated the implementation of NIL over the first two seasons. I'm excited to watch him grow in this role, allowing us to strategically develop a department-wide approach."
Beyond his NIL responsibilities, Harris will serve as Special Advisor to the Athletic Director.
"Darien is well respected within the University and our Spartan community," added Haller. "I value his insight and am looking forward to working closely with him on a number of projects to help move our department forward."
Harris spent more than three seasons on staff with the Spartan football program, where his wide-ranging duties included NIL education for football. He was a member of MSU's NIL committee, which developed the EverGreen program, and served as the football liaison to work with Advance (Anomaly Sports Group and TeamAltemus) on financial education. He was instrumental in the partnership between Spartan Athletics and the Michigan State University Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which educated student-athletes on how to sharpen their entrepreneurial mindset, master business basics and learn the process of creating new ventures. Additionally, Harris has served as host for MSU's two innovative NIL events: the NIL Business Summit and NIL Awards Celebration.
"I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to advocate and service all of our student-athletes while continuing to keep Michigan State one of the leaders in the NIL landscape," said Harris. "Our focus as a department will be on giving our student-athletes the best resources and education on NIL and progress our award-winning EverGreen program forward with new initiatives and opportunities for the entire department, donors, alumni and fans."
Breske has been with MSU athletics for nearly eight years since first arriving on campus in October 2015, joining MSU's Office of Compliance Services as a compliance coordinator. A member of the State Bar of Michigan, she'll be able to collaborate with the Office of General Counsel and Government Relations to identify policy needs as well as implement necessary changes.
"Alex brings a unique skill set to our NIL team where her legal acumen and expertise will strengthen and enhance our overall program structure and approach," stated Haller. "Her athletics tenure and institutional knowledge will truly bode well for our student-athletes, constituency groups, and various stakeholders which she will interact."
"I am extremely grateful to Alan Haller and Jennifer Smith for this opportunity and the continued ability to serve our student-athletes and the Spartan Athletics family," said Breske. "With the collegiate athletics landscape everchanging, I look forward to ensuring that Michigan State Athletics is well-positioned for the future. I'm excited to partner with Ashton Henderson and Darien Harris as we continue to provide an industry-leading experience for our student-athletes and celebrate their on- and off-field successes."
A former captain on the 2015 Big Ten Football Championship team that reached the College Football Playoff, Harris was a four-year letterwinner for the Spartans from 2011-15, starting two seasons at Star (weakside) linebacker. He was voted a co-captain by his teammates in 2015 and was a part of the winningest senior class at MSU with 43 victories. Harris collected 154 tackles, including 13 for losses (28 yards), in 54 career games with 25 starts; the 54 career games played is tied for the most of any Spartan player in a four-year span in Michigan State history.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2015 and his master's degree in marketing research in 2019. He joined the Spartan football staff, beginning as the Director of Player Engagement and transitioning to Director of Player Relations and Program Advancement in 2022, with duties including player development, alumni engagement, university outreach, community service, and NIL education to current football student-athletes.
Breske, who previously held the title of Director of Compliance/Equity, Monitoring & Technology before being promoted to Assistant AD in 2022, is the primary compliance coordinator for the football program. She monitors the university's athletics programs to ensure compliance with all aspects of NCAA rules and regulations, providing NCAA rules interpretations, and waiver processing. In addition to her compliance roles, Breske is also responsible for ensuring the university's athletics programs are in compliance with Title IX and federal guidelines as they pertain to gender equity.
Breske received her undergraduate degree in political science from Millikin University. She earned her master's degree in kinesiology (sport administration) from Michigan State University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University – Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
