Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The College of William and Mary in Virginia, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The College of William and Mary in Virginia, its conference, the state of Virginia and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 24, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at William & Mary
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "W&M NIL Policy", linked from W&M's NIL Program page (file posted 2022-12-16, created 2021-07-12). It says it governs "up until the point in time when and if the Commonwealth of Virginia passes or adopts state-wide NIL legislation", bars pay above fair market value, for work not performed, for athletic performance or as an enrollment inducement, says "W&M shall not provide payments or benefits to a student-athlete in relation to their NIL" and that "W&M employees are prohibited from assisting with or facilitating NIL activities", and bars NIL activity that conflicts with W&M's core values as the Athletics Director determines. W&M's NIL page (2025) says "The NIL program is managed within William & Mary Athletics" with the Athletics Foundation and that coaches may help identify educational priorities | W&M Athletics, NIL Policy (posted 2022-12-16), NIL Program page and NIL page (2025) |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Go for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). W&M's policy says athletes "must disclose any NIL agreements to the athletic department within five business days (5) of signing", through forms shared through Teamworks, and that failing to disclose could lead to removal from a team or cancellation of athletics aid. Virginia law: before executing an NIL agreement, the athlete discloses it to the school "in a manner designated by the institution" (§ 23.1-408.1(I)) | W&M Athletics, NIL Policy; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/virginia |
| Banned categories | Virginia law bars NIL pay in connection with alcohol; adult entertainment; cannabis and its derivatives (not hemp); controlled substances; performance enhancing drugs; drug paraphernalia; tobacco, nicotine and vapor products; weapons, including firearms and ammunition; and casinos and gambling, including sports betting (§ 23.1-408.1(F)). W&M's policy adds NIL activity that conflicts with NCAA rules or law, or "with W&M's core values as determined by the Athletics Director or their designee" | /nil/college/virginia; W&M Athletics, NIL Policy |
| School marks and group licensing | W&M's policy says use of W&M logos and trademarks "must be explicitly granted and follow all University licensing guidelines" and that proposed use "must be submitted for approval by University Licensing prior to signing an NIL agreement". Virginia law lets athletes use school marks only if the school permits (§ 23.1-408.1(H)). W&M's NIL page links Athlete's Threads for fan gear supporting athletes and names Andy Rowdon, Executive Associate Athletics Director, External Operations, for branding and licensing questions | W&M Athletics, NIL Policy and NIL page; /nil/college/virginia |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists William & Mary (Coastal Athletic Association) as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-24). On 2025-02-28 W&M said it understood the CAA Board of Directors had voted that all members would opt in and that W&M "plans to opt in to the settlement in one year's time"; on 2025-06-30 it said it "will join the other members of the CAA and opt into the House vs. NCAA Settlement on July 1, 2025", citing the final settlement's roster-limit terms. Its 2025-10-24 release says the settlement lets schools "participate directly in NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) activity" within an "annually renewable framework". Virginia law bars the NCAA and conferences from stopping a Virginia school paying athletes for NIL and requires board-approved school NIL compensation policies, with no student fees used (§ 23.1-408.1(C)(4), (D)). No W&M allocation is published | College Sports Commission; W&M Athletics, opt-in statements (2025-02-28, 2025-06-30) and NIL release (2025-10-24); /nil/college/virginia |
| Collective or NIL group | W&M's 2025-10-24 release thanks the 1693 Alliance "for its early leadership in advancing NIL at the university" and says it "played a vital role in establishing the foundation for NIL"; its status on 2026-10-24 is not stated by W&M. W&M's current channels are the Green & Gold Funds, which the 2025-10-24 release calls "new NIL enhancement funds" for "charitable contributions" that "can be directed to a specific sport" (its NIL page calls them "team-specific NIL enhancement funds" taking "a tax deductible gift", and its FAQ says gifts through the William & Mary Athletics Foundation that support NIL education and program development "may qualify as tax-deductible charitable gifts"), and the Green & Gold Exchange on INFLCR, where businesses connect with athletes | W&M Athletics, NIL release (2025-10-24) and NIL page |
| Agents and representation | W&M's policy lets athletes obtain legal counsel and representation "strictly limited to NIL activities", including talent agents "(as opposed to sports agents)", marketing firms, legal counsel and financial advisors. Virginia law: schools may not stop an athlete from hiring an athlete agent registered with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or a Virginia-licensed attorney for NIL; the athlete may cancel an agency contract within 14 days (§ 23.1-408.1(B)(2); § 54.1-526 et seq.) | W&M Athletics, NIL Policy; /nil/college/virginia |
| Compliance contact | Paul Cox, Assistant Athletics Director, Compliance, (757) 221-2183, pwcox@wm.edu (compliance page, read 2026-10-24) | W&M Athletics, Compliance |
| State law | Va. Code § 23.1-408.1 (2022, expanded 2024) protects NIL pay and representation, bars nine deal categories, has athletes disclose deals before signing, bars the NCAA and conferences from stopping a Virginia school paying athletes for NIL, and requires board-approved school NIL policies. In force | /nil/college/virginia |
What is specific to William & Mary
William & Mary, a public university in Williamsburg and a founding CAA member, splits its sports between two leagues from 2026: W&M announced on 2025-04-25 that football would join the Patriot League as an associate member "beginning with the 2026 season", while "Twenty of W&M's remaining 22 sports remain members of the Coastal Athletic Association". In February 2025 W&M said it planned to opt in to the House settlement a year later than the rest of the CAA, then announced on 2025-06-30 that it would opt in on 2025-07-01 with the other members; the College Sports Commission lists it for 2026-27. Its NIL structure is built on campus: an education program with the Mason School of Business and the Law School (2022); Larry Pulley, longtime dean of the Mason School of Business, named W&M's first Interim General Manager in October 2025 to lead initiatives including "NIL operations", whose term ends at the end of October 2026 with Pulley staying on as a consultant (athletics director's newsletter, 2026-09-10); and Green & Gold Funds for donors, announced in the same release that thanked the 1693 Alliance for its early NIL work.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at William & Mary
Does William & Mary pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists William & Mary among schools in revenue sharing for 2026-27, when the cap is about $21.58 million per school. W&M said on 2025-06-30 that it would opt in to the House settlement on 2025-07-01, after saying in February 2025 that it planned to wait until 2026. Its 2025 NIL release says the settlement lets schools "participate directly in NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) activity". W&M has not published how it divides the money.
Does William & Mary football still play in the CAA?
No. W&M announced in April 2025 that football joins the Patriot League as an associate member from the 2026 season. Its release says "Twenty of W&M's remaining 22 sports remain members of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)"; men's and women's gymnastics compete in other conferences.
What NIL collective works with William & Mary?
W&M thanked the 1693 Alliance in October 2025 for its early leadership in NIL. In the same release W&M announced "new NIL enhancement funds, known as Green & Gold Funds", for charitable gifts that "can be directed to a specific sport", and it points businesses to the Green & Gold Exchange.
How do William & Mary athletes report NIL deals?
Virginia law has athletes disclose an NIL agreement to the school before signing it, in the manner the school designates. W&M's posted policy says agreements are disclosed within five business days of signing through Teamworks forms. Third-party deals worth $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days under NCAA rules.
What NIL deals are banned for William & Mary athletes?
Virginia law bars NIL pay tied to alcohol, adult entertainment, cannabis, controlled substances, performance enhancing drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco and vaping products, weapons including firearms, and casinos and gambling including sports betting. W&M's policy also bars activity that conflicts with W&M's core values as the Athletics Director determines.
Be your own agent. Leave.
