Daniel Libit
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(Un)covering sports for @Sportico | Will sue for public records | Email: dlibit@sportico.com | Signal: @daniellibit.60
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Articles by Daniel Libit
SMU Ponied Up Big for Andy Enfield, Who’s Stumbled Out of the Gate
SMU spent more than $12 million in 2024 to usher in Andy Enfield and move on from Rob Lanier. Entering his third season, Enfield has yet to prove he’s worth the price tag. Design by Sportico, Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images When Southern Methodist University athletic director Rick Hart hired Andy Enfield as the school’s new men’s basketball coach in April 2024, he called him a “game changer.” Though results have yet to match that billing, Enfield’s paycheck has.
Players Era’s Trademark on Track as New Era Drops Its Objection
Players Era, the NIL-paying college sports tournament operator, moved a step closer to securing trademark rights to its own name after headwear giant New Era dropped its formal protest following an undisclosed settlement. In a motion filed last week with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), New Era sought to withdraw its opposition to 89 Blocks Holdings LLC’s application to register the “Players Era” word mark.
Mike Elko Called the Fan Site TexAgs a ‘Cesspool.’ It’s Deep in Aggie Money
Texas A&M booster organization the 12th Man Foundation has paid millions of dollars to TexAgs.com’s parent company, tax returns show. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Alex Stiz/Getty Images, Getty Images Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko may have ventured onto financially sensitive ground when he lashed out at the Aggies’ largest fan site.
NYAC Turns Pandemic Signup Boom Into First Winter Sport Athlete Original
The New York Athletic Club is one of the most storied institutions in the history of American sports, and its athletes have won 321 Olympic medals, dating back to the first modern Games in 1896. But for its entire 158-year history, the NYAC had never supported a winter sport athlete. That’s changing this autumn. Lauren Brzozowski, a bobsledder from northern New Jersey, has signed on as the first NYAC athlete in a Winter Olympic sport.
LIV Golf Bankruptcy Lands Law Firm in a Florida Sublease Hazard
There are well over a dozen law firms involved in the LIV Golf bankruptcy proceedings, but perhaps none has as personal—or immediate—a stake as Blank Rome LLP. Earlier this year, the Philadelphia-headquartered firm expanded its presence in Florida by adding a five-lawyer office in West Palm Beach. It set up shop in an unlikely location: LIV Golf’s former U.S. command post.
NCAA Won’t Commit to Future Concussion Research Funding
The 12-year-old CARE Consortium, a joint NCAA–Defense Department initiative focused on head injury research, is approaching the end of its current funding period. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Ben Liebenberg/Getty Images The CARE Consortium, the concussion research alliance launched in 2014 by the NCAA and Department of Defense, is nearing the end of its current, five-year phase.
Sherrone’s Stuff: Inside the 46 Boxes Michigan Shipped Its Fired Coach Original
Public records obtained by Sportico detail the many items Michigan's ex-head football coach left behind in his office, including a wedding ring and smelling salts.
Jon Rahm Won’t Join LIV 2.0, Golfer’s Attorney Tells Bankruptcy Court
An attorney for Jon Rahm told a U.S. bankruptcy court Wednesday that the golfer "will not be participating" in LIV Golf's planned restructured entity, described as LIV Golf 2.0. During the second hearing in LIV Golf's bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey, Rahm's lawyer told U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan that, after reviewing the proposed terms of LIV Golf 2.0, the parties had entered into "advanced discussions" over a separation agreement, with a deadline of Nov. 5 to reach a deal.
Jon Rahm Won’t Join LIV 2.0, Golfer’s Attorney Tells Bankruptcy Court
Rahm’s departure deals a blow to LIV Golf’s restructuring plans, which may now hinge on the league’s ability to retain Bryson DeChambeau.
Belichick’s UNC Staff ‘Inadvertently’ Signed Termination Releases Early Original
Bill Belichick and nearly all of his football staff signed post-termination release exhibits at the same time their contracts were executed. Design by Sportico, Photo by Lance King/Getty Images For all the uncertainty surrounding the future employment of the University of North Carolina’s football staff, the paperwork governing their departures is already in order.
Ohio State Could Owe Millions More to Prior Strauss Sex-Abuse Plaintiffs Original
OSU's recent $100 million settlement with survivors of former OSU team doctor Richard Strauss could trigger a most-favored-nation clause for claimants who settled with school in 2020. Design by Sportico, Photo by Aaron M.
Antitrust the Process: Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act Original
By a 77-22 vote, the U.S. Senate approved legislation Monday that would provide the NCAA, schools and conferences liability protection on athlete pay and transfer enforcement rules. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Getty Images The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), adopting a measure that would give the NCAA its long-sought antitrust exemption while creating a uniform national standard for how college athletes can be paid and how long they can play.
Pat Ryan Jr., Northwestern’s Stadium Prince, Polishes the New Family Jewel Original
Pat Ryan Jr. has overseen construction of Northwestern’s new $875 million football stadium, largely financed from a gift by his billionaire father. Sportico joined him on one of his many construction tours earlier this month.
LSU’s Tiger Tale Gets Hearing in Oregon State Players Union Bid
Oregon State provost Roy Haggerty testified last week about his tiger-driven departure from LSU. But what does that have to do with the Beaver athletes' employee statuses? Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images, Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Oregon State University, fighting an effort by members of its women’s basketball team to unionize through the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB), is trying to argue that athletics is much less influential at OSU than at other schools.
‘We Blew It.’ Key Dem Hill Staffer Laments Party’s Role in PCSA Passage
Peter Mills, the former legislative aide who led Sen. Chris Murphy’s work on college sports, believes a rupture between Murphy and Sen. Cory Booker six years ago set Democrats on a path toward capitulation on the Protect College Sports Act. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call There is a long line of people who harbor frustrations—if not outward contempt—for the Protect College Sports Act.
Ex-Labor Honcho Abruzzo Now Pushes for College Athlete Unions
Jennifer Abruzzo, who authored a key 2021 NLRB memo supporting college athletes’ employee rights, is pressing the labor rights issue from a different vantage.
Cheer Sex-Abuse Suit Against Varsity, Webb Estate Needs a Restart
This lawsuit is the first seeking to hold Varsity founder Jeff Webb's estate liable for sex abuse perpetrated by a Varsity-linked cheerleading coach. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Future Publishing via Getty Images A federal judge in Georgia has ordered a former competitive cheerleader who alleges being sexually abused by her coach to replead the case and potentially seek new counsel. The ruling, however, keeps alive the latest federal sex abuse lawsuit against Varsity Brands.
Florida State Chops AD Alford in Latest Act of Seminole Unrest Original
Athletic director Michael Alford, who oversaw FSU through its private equity dalliance and ACC skirmish, has been ousted. Design by Sportico, Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images After years of upheaval in Florida State athletics—including a then-unprecedented flirtation with private equity and a bitter legal fight with the Atlantic Coast Conference—the school has parted ways with athletic director Michael Alford.
LIV Golf Secures Initial Court Approval as Bankruptcy Case Begins Original
LIV Golf told a U.S. bankruptcy court Wednesday that the embattled global golf circuit’s 57 entities are entering bankruptcy proceedings with meaningful assets, committed revenue and a path forward. “These debtors did not come into this case in a free fall,” said attorney Matthew Williams of law firm Gibson Dunn, which is representing LIV Golf.
As Big 12 Promotes Energy Drinks, Its Schools’ Research Is Mixed Original
Last month, a coalition of physicians launched a public pressure campaign against the Big 12’s recent $20 million-per-year patch sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy, which received an international unveiling Aug. 29 when TCU’s football team played North Carolina at the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Foreign College Athlete Placement Firms Face a World of Uncertainty Original
Keystone Sports and other companies built around helping international athletes play college sports in America are seeing demand soften and challenges multiply. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Keystone Sports, Getty Images Gonzalo Corrales has been in the business of placing international athletes at American colleges long enough not to panic when the inevitable late-summer snags arise.
Foreign College Athlete Placement Firms Face a World of Uncertainty
Now Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his U.S. Senate race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, pointing to the candidates’ sharply different records on transgender athletes and medical treatments for minors. "Texas needs a senator who will fight …
LSU Wades Into Choppy Waters in Fired Hoops Assistant’s Trial Original
Opening arguments were set to begin Tuesday morning in an eight-day jury trial in Louisiana stemming from the 2022 firing of former LSU associate head men’s basketball coach Bill Armstrong, who alleges the university breached his contract and sacrificed his rights in an effort to appease the NCAA. Armstrong, along with then-head coach Will Wade, was fired following an NCAA infractions case involving LSU’s men’s basketball and football programs.
Feds Expand Cam Colvin Fraud Case, Seek to Restrict His Online Presence
In a superseding indictment, the former college football player and self-proclaimed billionaire is now accused of defrauding victims of $2.7 million. Design by Molly Geary, Photos by Greg Trott/Getty Images, Getty Images, Rich Polk/Getty Images for Kia A federal grand jury has expanded the criminal case against former University of Oregon football player Cameron Colvin, alleging in a superseding indictment returned this month that he defrauded individuals and companies of nearly $2.7 million.
Players Era’s Kansas Term Sheet Includes Big Cash and Caveats Original
Kansas is set to receive $3.1 million in NIL and travel support annually to participate in Players Era's upcoming men's basketball tournaments. But there is fine—and not so fine—print.
SafeSport’s New CEO Looks to Shine a Light on Problems
Seeking to restore the reputation of the embattled, cash-strapped organization, SafeSport CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is taking a page from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s playbook. Design by Molly Geary, Photos courtesy Safesport Typically, organizations try to keep allegations of misconduct out of public view. But the U.S. Center for SafeSport has come to see that, in some cases, putting it in the spotlight may be the better approach.
Mountain West, 5 Departing Schools Agree to $49M Settlement
The payment is about half of what the MWC had originally sought to recoup from the five schools that left it for the Pac-12. Design/Sportico, Photo by David Becker/Getty Images The five schools leaving the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-12 have agreed to pay their former league $49 million, according to a copy of a settlement agreement obtained by Sportico.
DePaul Athletics Health Staffer Sues Over Mid-Pregnancy Termination
DePaul University’s former associate athletics director for health and wellness has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and AD DeWayne Peevy, alleging she was illegally laid off while seven months pregnant in violation of her civil rights. The lawsuit marks the second time in six years that DePaul has been sued by a mental health provider that worked with the school’s athletes.
The Elusive Provider Behind the WTA’s Sex Testing
The company handling the Women’s Tennis Association’s controversial genetic sex screening has identity questions of its own—and neither the company nor the WTA appears eager to answer them. Phuel Sports Science, a Colorado-based firm behind a performance blood-testing service, was chosen by the WTA to perform a one-time SRY gene screening test to identify the biological sex of competing athletes.
Ex-Colorado Youth Hockey Boss Sued for Evading Fraud Judgment
After winning a six-figure judgment against its former president for alleged fund misappropriation, CAHA now claims Randy Kanai is illicitly evading payment. Design/Sportico The Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) has filed a new lawsuit against its former president, Randy Kanai, alleging he is evading a six-figure judgment for misappropriating funds from the youth sports organization by having fraudulently transferred ownership of a property to an investment entity he controls.
New Corporate Filing Hints at LIV Golf’s Post-PIF Strategy
LIV Golf’s creation of a new New Jersey entity offers a glimpse into how the league is restructuring its operations after separating from Saudi backing. Design by Sportico, Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images The law firm hired by LIV Golf to help secure outside investors recently created a new corporate entity on the league’s behalf in New Jersey, offering a glimpse into how the embattled circuit is restructuring following its split from its Saudi backer.
Western Settlers: Pac-12, MWC Resolve Poaching Penalty Lawsuit
The settlement, announced Tuesday, closes the book on a two-year legal fight sparked by the departures of five Mountain West schools to the Pac-12. Design by Sportico, Logos by Pac-12 and Mountain West The western frontier of college sports has become a little less wild.
How Paramount’s Legal Defense United NCAA Antitrust Adversaries
Beth Wilkinson formally joined Paramount’s defense team, which includes Jeffrey Kessler. The two have opposed each other in NCAA antitrust cases. Design by Sportico, Photos by Getty Images For the past six years, antitrust legal giants Beth Wilkinson and Jeffrey Kessler have been locked in a high-profile courtroom battle over whether the NCAA and its member institutions have lived up to the requirements of the Sherman Act.
Texas Tech’s Campbell Warned Big 12 He Had Sorsby ‘Receipts’ on Cincy
A text message obtained by Sportico reveals Texas Tech board chair and mega-donor Cody Campbell's threatening response to Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield's allegation of tampering. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by John E.
He Wants to Save Cal Poly’s Swimming Program. Is It Worth the Price and Pain?
Eighteen months after Cal Poly cut its varsity swimming and diving team, Trevor Cardinal, a former swimmer and current professor, is spearheading a $15.5 million campaign to bring it back. Illustration by Grace Hughes. Photos: Melia Costa, Trevor Cardinal Trevor Cardinal spends his professional life trying to discover new ways of rehabilitating systems.
Northwestern’s $121M Settlement Spend Spanned Fitz, Football, Trump
Northwestern's latest tax return shows it spent $121.03 million in legal settlements in FY25, which included resolutions to lawsuits filed by former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald and dozens of his players.
Seahawks to Seashore: Khosla’s Lingering California Turf War
Vinod Khosla may soon be relinquishing a much more precious Bay Area claim than his minority stake in the 49ers. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch, Doug Pensinger/Getty Images With his agreement to buy the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion, Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla’s attention has drifted up the Pacific Coast. As part of the deal, first reported by Sportico, Khosla has agreed to give up his minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers.
Nationals Prospect Anchors Latest Push to Securitize Athlete Pay
One of the Washington Nationals’ top prospects has agreed to sell a percentage of his future baseball earnings to a startup called Agentiq, the latest company seeking to build a platform for public investment in professional athletes. Ronny Cruz, an infielder with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, is the first pro to sign a deal with Agentiq.
Stephen F. Austin Served Another Title IX Suit Over Beach Volleyball
SFA is accused of cutting two players from its reinstated beach volleyball program over their ties to last summer's legal challenge over the team's planned elimination. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Patrick Smith/Getty Images, C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images Stephen F. Austin State University, which was sued under Title IX last July after announcing plans to eliminate its beach volleyball program, now faces a retaliation suit from two players cut from the reinstated team.
College Co-Ed Sailing Team’s Reinstatement Marks Title IX First
Christopher Newport University had announced it would end the varsity program back in March, but it changed course following a Title IX class-action threat. Design by Sportico, Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Christopher Newport University, a Division III school in Newport News, Va., has agreed to reinstate its varsity co-ed sailing team less than three months after announcing its discontinuation.
SCOTUS Trans Athlete Ruling Raises Broader Title IX Intrigue Original
The Supreme Court decided Title IX doesn't prevent states from restricting transgender athletes. Will SCOTUS also review the Title IX three-part test?
NIL Era’s Goofiest Lawsuit Hinges on Agent’s ‘Employee’ Status
As the NIL era continues to blur long-standing distinctions in college sports, the industry’s latest legal fight over money doesn’t involve an athlete, school, conference or governing body. Instead, it pits online personality and NIL agent Noah Reisenfeld against Young Money APAA Sports, the agency co-founded by rapper Lil Wayne that represents football stars Travis Hunter and Darian Mensah.
College Sports Commission Taps Democratic Insider to Run Comms
Kenny Thompson Jr., a former TCU baseball player and Obama White House alum, will become the CSC's new head of strategic communications and external affairs. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Outdoor Recreation Roundtable The College Sports Commission announced Tuesday that it had hired Kenny Thompson Jr., a Democratic National Committee official and veteran of the Obama White House, as its new head of strategic communications and external affairs.
Feds Detail Hoopster Kerr Kriisa’s Alleged $2.2M Criminal Side Hustle
The former college basketball player is accused of running a fraud scheme against two individuals over the course of his collegiate career. Design by Sportico, Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images “Respect the grind you never see,” Kerr Kriisa wrote in an Instagram post on Oct. 30, captioning a series of stylized photos showing him clutching a basketball and flexing his muscles in the jersey of his new team, the University of Cincinnati.
Rozier Trades Ex-Trump Lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell Attorney
The NBA free agent has changed counsel at a key pre-trial stage of his criminal prosecution, with David Oscar Markus taking over for Jim Trusty. Design by Sportico, Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images NBA free agent Terry Rozier has hired prominent criminal defense attorney David Oscar Markus to represent him in his federal gambling trial. Markus replaces former Donald Trump lawyer Jim Trusty, who withdrew from the case last week.
Cal Finally Finalizes Ron Rivera’s Football GM Contract
Former NFL head coach Ron Rivera inked his long-form agreement with UC Berkeley earlier this month. He's been working for the school since March 2025. Getty Images: Thearon W. Henderson / Stringer Fifteen after Ron Rivera was hired as Cal’s football general manager the parties have, at long last, executed a long-form employment agreement.
NCAA’s 5-Year Legal Spending Nears $300 Million
The association's latest tax return reported $63.5 million in legal fees for FY25. Design by Grace Hughes, Photos by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, Joe Robbins/Getty Images The NCAA reported spending $63.5 million in legal fees during the fiscal year that ended August 2025, according to its latest tax return, bringing its five-year total spending on outside counsel to $292.6 million. The biggest beneficiary was law firm Wilkinson Stekloff, which received nearly $19.6 million in FY25.
NCAA, CSC Score Key Win in Associated Entities Spat
The battle over how to interpret the House settlement continues. Design by Grace Hughes, Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Validating the NCAA’s interpretation of House settlement language, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins on Thursday ruled that multimedia rights companies and third-party brand sponsors can be classified as “associated entities” within the meaning of the agreement.
Judge Spikes Disgraced Volleyball Coach’s $250M Suit Against Advocate
Rick Butler sued Champion Women’s Nancy Hogshead in 2021 after she sounded the alarm on decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct. Design by Sportico, Photo via Adobe Stock A federal judge in Chicago has dismissed a $250 million federal lawsuit filed by Rick Butler, one of the nation’s most prominent junior volleyball coaches, against women’s sports advocate and civil rights attorney Nancy Hogshead.
Indiana’s Bob Knight Statue Costs a Pretty Penny
IU commissioned sculptor Brian Hanlon to memorialize the legendary Hoosiers head coach. Designed by Sportico, Photos by Jonathan Daniel /Allsport, Andy Lyons/Getty Images The University of Indiana is paying a sculptor $195,000 to memorialize legendary Hoosiers basketball coach Bob Knight, according to public records seen by Sportico.
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