A group of passionate Fairfield University alumni have launched Red Sea Rising; official collective and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) entity to support Fairfield student-athletes.

"We are thrilled to establish the Red Sea Rising collective," said Alfred Foglio '92. "As a proud alumnus, I want to see Stags student-athletes succeed in all facets of their Fairfield experience. Red Sea Rising will work tirelessly to provide exceptional NIL opportunities for our student-athletes."

Red Sea Rising, working in tandem with industry-leading Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness (known as "SANIL"), will leverage the collective power of the alumni, fans, and local businesses to help Fairfield student-athletes excel during and beyond their time in Stag Country. More importantly, Red Sea Rising seeks to help maximize NIL opportunities and foster the entrepreneurial spirit that Stags student-athletes embody.

"We are excited to announce Red Sea Rising to the outstanding fans and supporters of Fairfield University and its athletic teams," said Jason Belzer, CEO of SANIL. "Our vision is to empower Fairfield University student-athletes through engagement with fans and collaboration with local businesses and national brands. It's our hope that we can harness the passion of Fairfield fans and alumni to provide unprecedented opportunities for Fairfield student-athletes."

Red Sea Rising will allow businesses, donors and members to support and engage with their favorite teams and student-athletes, or contribute to a general fund that supports student-athletes across several sports. Through Red Sea Rising, student-athletes may participate in a variety of opportunities, including personal appearances, meet-and-greets, charitable work, speaking engagements, or commercial sponsorship endeavors.  

"We are grateful for the alumni who guided this process and engineered the establishment of Red Sea Rising," said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "As college athletics evolves at a rapid pace, it is imperative to continually position Fairfield Athletics for success while providing a championship caliber student-athlete experience. Red Sea Rising, along with assistance from SANIL, will be an effective vehicle for our student-athletes to engage in opportunities to maximize their NIL while building their personal brand."

As with all NIL entities, Red Sea Rising is independent from Fairfield University. NCAA rules allow alumni, fans, and other donors to compensate student-athletes through the Red Sea Rising, but such compensation:

• may not be considered "pay for play,"
• must be in exchange for services provided by the student-athlete, and
• may not be a recruiting inducement for a student-athlete to enroll or continue to attend Fairfield University.

Prospective donors or members of Red Sea Rising are encouraged to review the educational information (NCAA Guidance, Fairfield NIL Policy) and to proactively consult Fairfield Athletics compliance (athleticscompliance@fairfield.edu) with any questions.