About

The Shield NIL, LLC, dba The Shield NIL Collective, is an independently owned and operated limited liability company. The Shield NIL LLC is not part of the University of Detroit Mercy.

The collective’s purpose is to carry out its mission. Incidental to its mission, UDM Titan student athletes can gain opportunities to earn income from their names, images, and likenesses. The Shield operates in a manner consistent with the laws of the State of Michigan and the regulations of the NCAA.

Our Mission

The Shield NIL Collective’s mission is to communicate to people in metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan the historical traditions of Jesuit education now synergized into the University of Detroit Mercy.

Since the Jesuits founded Detroit College in 1877, the student athlete has played an important role in their efforts to train each student’s spirit, mind, and body in a holistic manner. Intramural sports began almost immediately. The first intercollegiate football games were played in 1896. The first intercollegiate men’s basketball games were played in the 1905-06 school year. Women’s intercollegiate basketball began in 1977-78. When the University of Detroit and Mercy College of Detroit consolidated in 1990, the new UDM recognized the importance of these historical values by retaining the nickname Titans along with the Titan mascot and combining the two schools’ colors into the current red, white, and blue.

Our Inspiration

The Shield NIL Collective is inspired by the words on the Fr. Norbert J Huetter Award in Calihan Hall, created in 2001 and given to alumni who best exemplify the Jesuit principles that all should be “Men and Women for Others.” “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.”

The Shield NIL Collective is also inspired by the life and example of Fr. Gerald Cavanagh who bridged the consolidation and always attended as many Titan games as possible.

The Shield NIL Collective believes that these historical values can improve the lives of any student at any level, at any school, secular or religious. One way to best experience how these values can enhance all educational outcomes is to interact with and hear the stories of Titans’ student-athletes.

Our Commitment to UDM Titan Student Athletes

The Shield Collective is committed to support and serve the best interests of UDM student athletes in their NIL transactions. We are committed to offering fair contracts. Being men and women for others informs and instructs us on this commitment to UDM Titan student athletes. We can assist UDM student athletes with any accounting and taxation issues. Also, we help fulfill any compliance disclosures required by UDM.

Our View of NIL

Incidental to our mission, The Shield Collective provides UDM student athletes with opportunities to market their names, images, and likenesses. We do not operate a pay-for-play business. We use NIL in the proper way. We want a program consistent with our mission and worthy of the student athletes who give so much effort for UDM.

Our Opportunities for Businesses

The Shield Collective offers a ready-made solution for those businesses that want to utilize the public relations rights of UDM student athletes for their advertising. We will market your business, provide you with contracts, and assist in any compliance disclosures required by UDM.