STORRS CENTRAL HIRES SHANE KELLEY AS NIL EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER
STORRS, Conn. – Shane Kelley has been appointed as the inaugural in-house NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) Executive General Manager for Storrs Central. With a robust background in athlete management, marketing, and partnership development, Kelley will be focused on enhancing commercial opportunities for UConn student-athletes. In his role as NIL Executive General Manager, Kelley will concentrate on refining current NIL strategies, educating stakeholders, fostering partnerships to help advance UConn student-athletes' NIL interests, and expanding UConn’s reach within the business community.
“We are grateful to Storrs Central for continuing to fuel the NIL opportunities for our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics David Benedict. “Having Shane on the Storrs Central team is an important step as we position ourselves to effectively navigate the evolving college athletics landscape and enhance the support of NIL for our Huskies.”
"As a Connecticut native, it's an honor and privilege for me to work alongside UConn Athletics," stated Kelley. “Collegiate athletics has always been a passion of mine. It’s where the masses are introduced to the first chapter of an athletes’ journey and within an arena where deep rooted fanbases and communities exist. After spending much of my career in professional sports I am excited to work with athletes who are just starting to show the world who they are both on and off the court/field. I look forward to working alongside UConn and their student athletes, helping tell their stories, and connecting them with brands who want to be a part of their journey.”
"Shane's impressive experience in identifying and cultivating commercial partnerships make him an ideal choice for this critical role at UConn," said Benjamin Renshaw, Co-Founder of Storrs Central. "We are excited to welcome Shane and know that he will have a substantial impact on the ability for UConn athletes to maximize their NIL potential."
With more than a decade of experience across sports and entertainment, Kelley has a proven track record in branding, marketing strategy, and athlete management. Shane began his career with the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks and in 2015 joined global sports marketing agency Lagardère Sports (now Sportfive). Over the six years with Lagardère, Kelley led brand partnership efforts for their tennis division while managing a former World #1 tennis player. In 2021, with the changes to NIL, Shane, started his own agency focusing on identifying endorsements for college athletes and consulting for companies looking to tap into the space. He most recently served as Vice President and Senior Agent for, The Familie agency.
About Storrs Central
Storrs Central is the official NIL Marketing Partner of UConn Athletics. Established to support Husky athletes cultivate and secure, name, image, and likeness opportunities. Storrs Central relies on the strength of the Husky Family to connect fans, alumni, and corporate partners with Husky athletes seeking opportunities to further their professional and personal growth. 100% of profits generated through Storrs Central go directly to UConn student-athletes.
For inquiries contact: info@storrscentral.com