For much of its history, El Paso has had to work a little harder to showcase itself, a close-knit community isolated from the rest of the country.
But it’s long been a selling point that once you get here, you’ll understand why El Paso is so beloved.
As El Paso and UTEP student-athletes compete against other schools and cities that can offer more lucrative markets and name, image and likeness, or NIL, deals, Miner sports enthusiasts say it’s time to step up the support.
“We’re in a most unique time, where college sports is totally different, and we have to change with the times whether we like it or not,” said Steve Haskins, executive director of the Miner Collective. “I think we really have to make people understand that we can compete if we get involved.”
Collectively learning
Haskins was named the Miner Collective’s executive director in June. He isn’t just any average Miner sports fan. As the son of legendary UTEP coach Don Haskins, he’s spent much of his life around UTEP basketball and has seen the changes firsthand.
The Miner Collective was started in 2022. Since then, it has worked to bring together funders to support UTEP Men’s Basketball NIL athletes with a pool somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000, Haskins said.
The collective has a $5,000 minimum to join. Athletes in the Miner Collective are paid quarterly for the use of their name, image and likeness.
Members of the Miner Collective include Hunt Companies, Flo Networks, Casa Auto Group, Tecma, the law offices of Steve Ortega and Diversified Interiors.
UTEP is not affiliated with the Miner Collective, or with any other NIL group. Student-athletes cannot use UTEP logos, marks or branding in NIL activities.
Under UTEP’s NIL policy, the university cannot assist with “setting up or arranging for student-athletes to participate in NIL-related contracts or activities with boosters.”
The UTEP staff can forward information about potential NIL opportunities to student-athletes. UTEP did not respond to a request for an interview.
Other collectives
The Miner Collective is not the only NIL group available to UTEP student-athletes and businesses looking to support them.
Doyle Gaither, a lifelong basketball fan and 1966 graduate of UTEP, then known as Texas Western College, created Minerhoops.com to connect businesses to UTEP athletes at a smaller dollar level than the Miner Collective.
The site has support from El Paso businesses and professionals, including the Stanton House hotel and Dr. Jim Bowden, an El Paso dentist.
I never played the game,” Gaither said. “When I saw the rules were changed, that student-athletes could receive money, I was struck by the fact that smaller universities and individual players that weren’t nationally known weren’t getting the ability to capitalize on their NIL.”
On Minerhoops.com, a student-athlete and participating businesses and fans can register and create a page to interact with each other. It provides a NCAA-compliant way for them to financially support student-athletes. The site is currently working with six UTEP basketball players, according to Gaither.
He said Minerhoops.com has also expanded with a sister site called theNIL.app to include other colleges and sports. For example, he said, student-athletes on the UTEP rifle team have a niche but highly supportive fanbase that could mutually benefit from the web pages.
“The dollar amounts are meaningful but nominal,” Gaither said. “It’s a difference between a couple of really good meals a week, which is important to a lot of these young people. Many come from families who are not really able to give them a great college lifestyle.”
Haskins said it’s clear that there’s a need for business and community support of the Miner Collective if the community wants to attract strong players. He said the collective is eyeing whether charitable foundations can be an avenue of support.
“I think it’s a matter of people realizing they can be involved in this, and if El Paso doesn’t, it’s going to be a tough road for us to hoe,” Haskins said.
Rebecca Valdespino, marketing and communications manager at Winsupply of El Paso, said the company was brought into the NIL fold by Sinclair Broadcasting, which produced the company’s commercial featuring UTEP men’s basketball players, including UTEP forward Calvin Solomon.
“We’ve had great reception (to the ads),” Valdespino said. “They appreciate that we’ve included the Miners and recognized them.”
While UTEP can’t facilitate NIL deals, it does have a directory online that lists NIL student-athletes and their social media pages.
Rule changes, limitations
The NCAA first announced the NIL program in 2021. Each state makes its own NIL laws and policies for public universities, and the rules are very much still in flux.
Last week, an NCAA Division I council announced proposals intended to strengthen student-athlete protections related to NIL.
Proposals include a voluntary registry for NIL service providers; disclosure and aggregate reporting for certain parts or value amounts of agreements; a best practices guide for NIL contracts; and creating an education program for student-athletes and NIL service providers.
“As the association makes these changes to improve the environment for young people with NCAA rules, I look forward to partnering with members of Congress to build on these protections and create greater consistency and opportunities for all college athletes,” said Charlie Baker, NCAA president, in a news release.
There’s also a critical student population missing out on any NIL opportunities. International student-athletes on student visas cannot participate in NIL, and doing so can violate the terms of their visa.
Some analysts have said NIL rules could cement well-funded universities as sports powerhouses that make it harder for smaller schools and poorer communities to compete.
Student-athletes at UT Austin, long a powerhouse of college football and basketball, are cashing in on hefty NIL opportunities from a strong, loyal and well-funded fan base.
In a 2021 example, a group of UT Austin alums started the Pancake Factory NIL collective, which makes $800,000 available to the top 16 offensive and defensive linemen.
Haskins said while other schools may have a strong base, the NIL landscape ultimately does give UTEP a chance to compete if the community is willing to rally support.
“Everybody’s got a similar chance,” Haskins said. “Some schools have collectives that are stronger, or have a stronger base, and we’re just going to have to overcome that and see if our city can pull together and get people more educated and understanding of what this is, the small and big parts. "And winning always helps.”
Email El Paso Inc. staff writer Sara Sanchez at sesanchez@elpasoinc.comor call 915-534-4422.
But it’s long been a selling point that once you get here, you’ll understand why El Paso is so beloved.
As El Paso and UTEP student-athletes compete against other schools and cities that can offer more lucrative markets and name, image and likeness, or NIL, deals, Miner sports enthusiasts say it’s time to step up the support.
“We’re in a most unique time, where college sports is totally different, and we have to change with the times whether we like it or not,” said Steve Haskins, executive director of the Miner Collective. “I think we really have to make people understand that we can compete if we get involved.”
Collectively learning
Haskins was named the Miner Collective’s executive director in June. He isn’t just any average Miner sports fan. As the son of legendary UTEP coach Don Haskins, he’s spent much of his life around UTEP basketball and has seen the changes firsthand.
The Miner Collective was started in 2022. Since then, it has worked to bring together funders to support UTEP Men’s Basketball NIL athletes with a pool somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000, Haskins said.
The collective has a $5,000 minimum to join. Athletes in the Miner Collective are paid quarterly for the use of their name, image and likeness.
Members of the Miner Collective include Hunt Companies, Flo Networks, Casa Auto Group, Tecma, the law offices of Steve Ortega and Diversified Interiors.
UTEP is not affiliated with the Miner Collective, or with any other NIL group. Student-athletes cannot use UTEP logos, marks or branding in NIL activities.
Under UTEP’s NIL policy, the university cannot assist with “setting up or arranging for student-athletes to participate in NIL-related contracts or activities with boosters.”
The UTEP staff can forward information about potential NIL opportunities to student-athletes. UTEP did not respond to a request for an interview.
Other collectives
The Miner Collective is not the only NIL group available to UTEP student-athletes and businesses looking to support them.
Doyle Gaither, a lifelong basketball fan and 1966 graduate of UTEP, then known as Texas Western College, created Minerhoops.com to connect businesses to UTEP athletes at a smaller dollar level than the Miner Collective.
The site has support from El Paso businesses and professionals, including the Stanton House hotel and Dr. Jim Bowden, an El Paso dentist.
I never played the game,” Gaither said. “When I saw the rules were changed, that student-athletes could receive money, I was struck by the fact that smaller universities and individual players that weren’t nationally known weren’t getting the ability to capitalize on their NIL.”
On Minerhoops.com, a student-athlete and participating businesses and fans can register and create a page to interact with each other. It provides a NCAA-compliant way for them to financially support student-athletes. The site is currently working with six UTEP basketball players, according to Gaither.
He said Minerhoops.com has also expanded with a sister site called theNIL.app to include other colleges and sports. For example, he said, student-athletes on the UTEP rifle team have a niche but highly supportive fanbase that could mutually benefit from the web pages.
“The dollar amounts are meaningful but nominal,” Gaither said. “It’s a difference between a couple of really good meals a week, which is important to a lot of these young people. Many come from families who are not really able to give them a great college lifestyle.”
Haskins said it’s clear that there’s a need for business and community support of the Miner Collective if the community wants to attract strong players. He said the collective is eyeing whether charitable foundations can be an avenue of support.
“I think it’s a matter of people realizing they can be involved in this, and if El Paso doesn’t, it’s going to be a tough road for us to hoe,” Haskins said.
Rebecca Valdespino, marketing and communications manager at Winsupply of El Paso, said the company was brought into the NIL fold by Sinclair Broadcasting, which produced the company’s commercial featuring UTEP men’s basketball players, including UTEP forward Calvin Solomon.
“We’ve had great reception (to the ads),” Valdespino said. “They appreciate that we’ve included the Miners and recognized them.”
While UTEP can’t facilitate NIL deals, it does have a directory online that lists NIL student-athletes and their social media pages.
Rule changes, limitations
The NCAA first announced the NIL program in 2021. Each state makes its own NIL laws and policies for public universities, and the rules are very much still in flux.
Last week, an NCAA Division I council announced proposals intended to strengthen student-athlete protections related to NIL.
Proposals include a voluntary registry for NIL service providers; disclosure and aggregate reporting for certain parts or value amounts of agreements; a best practices guide for NIL contracts; and creating an education program for student-athletes and NIL service providers.
“As the association makes these changes to improve the environment for young people with NCAA rules, I look forward to partnering with members of Congress to build on these protections and create greater consistency and opportunities for all college athletes,” said Charlie Baker, NCAA president, in a news release.
There’s also a critical student population missing out on any NIL opportunities. International student-athletes on student visas cannot participate in NIL, and doing so can violate the terms of their visa.
Some analysts have said NIL rules could cement well-funded universities as sports powerhouses that make it harder for smaller schools and poorer communities to compete.
Student-athletes at UT Austin, long a powerhouse of college football and basketball, are cashing in on hefty NIL opportunities from a strong, loyal and well-funded fan base.
In a 2021 example, a group of UT Austin alums started the Pancake Factory NIL collective, which makes $800,000 available to the top 16 offensive and defensive linemen.
Haskins said while other schools may have a strong base, the NIL landscape ultimately does give UTEP a chance to compete if the community is willing to rally support.
“Everybody’s got a similar chance,” Haskins said. “Some schools have collectives that are stronger, or have a stronger base, and we’re just going to have to overcome that and see if our city can pull together and get people more educated and understanding of what this is, the small and big parts. "And winning always helps.”
Email El Paso Inc. staff writer Sara Sanchez at sesanchez@elpasoinc.comor call 915-534-4422.
