By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/1/22
Duquesne sophomore Emelie Curtis (Pennsbury alum) admits she’s not a big-name college lacrosse player and she hardly knew where to start this year when the NCAA passed a ruling that allows student-athletes to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).
So when her father, Pennsbury coach Dean Curtis, saw a tweet in November on Phillylacrosse’s feed trying to connect student-athletes seeking to utilize their NIL to Vantage Sports, she didn’t hesitate.
Within a few weeks, Curtis had arranged, through Vantage, to run a clinic for high school and middle school girls in Pittsburgh. The event drew over 20 girls, but much to her surprise, also an interview with the New York Times and even a front-page spot in the Dec. 9 print version.
Curtis earned almost $500 for her work, which was, by her high standards, well received by attendees, some of whom attended her second clinic held a week later. Curtis, hoping for a starting spot at attack next spring at Duquesne, was searching for a part-time income source and wanted to do something meaningful.
Clearly, she succeeded.
“I had been frustrated because I have a bank account that was going down and down and I want to work and be normal at times which is hard as an athlete,” said Curtis. “I get it that when you’re in college you’re not supposed to be rich, but it can be frustrating seeing other people having time to get a job and making money. I feel bad relying on my parents. It’s a weird thing to deal with.
“I hadn’t considered the NIL opportunity. I didn’t know what I could offer; I was trying to find something I was good at and I wanted to do something meaningful.”
Curtis has coached with her father’s Arrowhead Lacrosse program in Bucks County, so she quickly realized running a clinic would fulfill her goals.
“I have been with Arrowhead on the girls’ side for the past 2 years, coaching and running the program primarily on my own,” she said. “I set up camps and clinics, so I had some experience coaching.
“When I saw this (aligning with Vantage, which services athletes in all sports) could be something, I thought to myself, ‘I know how to coach, I like it, I have done it and made money in the past in my hometown. It’s good money in a small amount of time.'”
Curtis did not care so much about making money in the first clinic. She just wanted to get started. And she surely had no idea it would land her on the front of the New York Times.
The setup process was easy with Vantage. Curtis created an online account and was contacted by Vantage founder Patrick Johnson. Curtis chose her venue for the Dec. 9 event – at Green Tree Sportsplex – and decided to charge $25 for registration. At first, only a few girls signed up, but then the registrations took off and by that time the NY Times reporter Alan Blinder decided to do his feature story on Curtis and her clinics. He and Johnson had talked on and off since Vantage’s launch in July.
“I figured it was something I love and something that was not meaningless, like holding up a pizza,” Curtis said. “I am creating relationships and making a difference in these young kids’ lives.
“I was so excited and I knew it was something I wasn’t doing just for money. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter to me if I had 5 girls or 100. I was equally excited to put on a clinic and go out and coach no matter what. The week before the clinic I had six sign up. Then as I got into the week, I had signups like crazy and soon I had 23 of 25. I originally capped it at 20.
Vantage Sports College Athletes sign up link
All Vantage Sports links: upcoming events, general info
The NIL ruling has created many different opportunities for NCAA student-athletes to make money; doing appearances or trainings are perhaps the most popular. The perception that only high-profile athletes can capitalize would be foolish; Vantage’s goal is tapping into the market of athletes like Curtis, who can provide additional training opportunities to high school and youth, possibly at lower prices than professionals.
“We’ve gotten off to a great start with Emelie and I think it’s really indicative of the rising demand for female athletes across the sports landscape,” said Johnson. “From lacrosse, to soccer, and beyond, athletes like Emelie are wonderful ambassadors for the power of sport.
“There is a huge, largely underserved, market demand that we look forward to addressing. We’re proud of the work we’ve done with Emelie and are excited about our growing partnership.”
Curtis said she may have found her niche in a market with many possibilities.
“Patrick had originally reached out to Alan when he started the company in the summer and Alan told him to get back to him when he had a good story,” Curtis said. “When I got my clinic set up, Patrick reached out to him again and said, ‘Hey, I have this girl and you may like her story. She’s not the quarterback at Alabama, but she’s still making a good buck.”
Curtis was honored that the NY Times would send a writer and a photographer to Pittsburgh in the midst of a pandemic. The staffers then went to Alabama to interview Nick Saban, head coach of the defending NCAA football champions and favorite to win it all again.
On Sunday, Curtis and a Duquesne teammate ran another clinic. From these two trainings, she has signed two girls up for private lessons.
“You see big name guys, like football quarterbacks, or leading scorers,” said Curtis. “I am not one of them. But you have to look at your own assets. You have to think, ‘What do I have to offer? What am I good at? Why not me?'”
“People always say, ‘Why me?’ You have to think the opposite. I have these skills, I am confident; I have a lot to offer. Here’s this opportunity. Honestly, it fell into my lap and this is exactly what I needed and wanted and I didn’t even know?”
Curtis said the reaction from her attendees made the experience both rewarding and fun.
“One of the biggest things I figured out is there will always be a demand for coaching any sport,” said Curtis. “There will always be people who want your guidance and advice, and your knowledge. I think Division I athletes; or any college athletes, in general possess so much knowledge but we don’t know our full potential until we help others and foster their knowledge.
“I do know a lot! I think that’s what I realized. I have way more to offer than what I can do on the field. I am realizing this is just a steppingstone to be able to create something on my own that is unique. I want to create relationships with families and girls and help them get to play in college or in their school.”
Johnson said any college student-athlete can simply sign up with Vantage by clicking here and following the steps as Curtis did.
“We want athletes that want to use their abilities to help the next generation and be role models and mentors in navigating youth and high school sports,” he said. “Emelie found the website, created a profile and did a really good job. She took it very seriously, very professionally and she wanted to make an impact on girls’ lacrosse players in Pittsburgh.
“It was more than just money. She was looking to be a leader and to inspire young athletes and that’s what we were looking for.”