Indiana University student athletes in all collegiate sports now have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). As we talked to supporters of Hoosiers For Good—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises awareness for local charities through NIL partnerships with IU student athletes—business owners expressed interest in contracting with specific IU athletes to support their own commercial endeavors.
Hoosiers Connect was formed to amplify commercial brands through NIL sponsorships—leveraging our extensive experience with NIL and established relationships with IU athletes.
Tyler Harris serves as the Executive Director of Hoosiers Connect. He spent the last four years with the IU Athletic Department, most recently as Associate Athletic Director, involved in all name, image and likeness activities at IU. Tyler oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Office of Compliance Services (OCS), and served as the primary compliance contact for football and men’s and women’s basketball.
Tyler is fully immersed in NIL through his separate role as Executive Director of Hoosiers for Good—making him a natural leader of Hoosiers Connect.
Prior to IU, Tyler served as a compliance coordinator at Iowa State University and a postgraduate intern at the NCAA. A native of Barry, Illinois, Tyler graduated from Lindenwood University with a bachelor’s in exercise science and a master’s in business administration. He played as a four-year member of the men’s basketball team.
He and his wife, Keri, have three daughters, Sloane, Reese, and Tatum, and a son, Nash, and reside in Bloomington, IN.
Collin Hartman was named the Vice President of Partnerships for Hoosiers Connect in June 2022.
Most recently, Hartman served as a business development representative at Wessler Engineering. Prior to joining Wessler, Hartman held roles in various industries including financial services and pharmaceuticals.
The Fishers, Indiana, native graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a five-year letter winner at Indiana University as a part of the men’s basketball team. He played integral roles with teams that won the Big Ten regular season championship as well as a run to the NCAA Sweet 16. Hartman was deemed the Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree in 2018.
Hartman has remained involved with Indiana University serving on the I Association’s Board of Directors, that works to connect former IU athletes and foster relationships between the generations that walk Bloomington’s campus.
He and his wife, Mary Kate, are expecting their first child in August 2022.
Pete Yonkman is president of Cook Group and Cook Medical in Bloomington, Indiana. He has been with the company for nearly 20 years, starting in 2001 as in-house counsel. Pete has served in a variety of roles for Cook, including leading one of the local manufacturing sites and as executive vice president for 10 business units. Pete was named president of Cook Medical in 2014 and in 2015 added the role of president of Cook Group.
Pete is a born and bred Hoosier originally from Crown Point, Indiana. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Indiana University and earned degrees in psychology and philosophy. He graduated with his law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University in 1998. Pete is actively involved in community issues, including adult education, workforce development, fostering start-ups, and creating a business culture that supports entrepreneurs.
He lives in Bloomington with his wife, Janell, and their two boys, Leo and Vic.
Jeana Finlinson is a two-time graduate from Indiana University, earning a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2003 and a master’s degree in athletic administration in 2004.
Jeana has a storied athletics history that includes her time on the IU Women’s Golf team from 1999-2003, and her positions as the IU Assistant Women’s Golf Coach from 2004-05 and IU Director of Women’s Basketball Operations from 2005-07. From 2007-10, Jeana was a professional golfer on the Futures Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
Jeana has held several positions at Cook Medical, a medical device company headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, including product manager, regional sales manager, and sales development manager. Jeana is currently the director of global learning and talent development at Cook Group.
Jeana is a native of Greenwood where she and her family still reside.
Jared Jeffries boasts a storied Indiana basketball career. A Bloomington native named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2000, Jared played for the Indiana University Hoosiers for two seasons before entering the NBA draft. He earned many awards during his time at IU including 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2002 Big Ten Player of the Year.
Jared went on to be selected as the overall number 11 pick in the 2002 NBA draft. His career included playing for the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trailblazers. Jared retired from the NBA in 2013.
After his retirement, Jared served in many different roles including the Director of Player Personnel for the Denver Nuggets, President of Echo Fox, and host of a fishing television series called Modern Fishing with Jared Jeffries.
Brenna Wise is an Account Executive for United Business Technologies, an imaging solutions company focusing on document solutions and workflows. She resides in her hometown of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
After transferring from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017, Brenna joined the Indiana University Women’s Basketball team from 2017 to 2020. Brenna earned a double major from the Kelley School of Business, with two degrees in Marketing and Professional Sales. Under the leadership of Teri Moren and her staff, Brenna was a two-year captain helping IUWBB secure the 2018 WNIT championship and advance to the NCAA tournament in 2019. In her final year, Indiana was predicted to be a top 20 team and host a regional until the 2020 pandemic abruptly ended her career. Brenna was awarded Big Ten All-Academic team both years and received the Big Ten Sportsmanship award. She was also an active member of SAAC, Indiana’s student athletic advisory board.
Brenna is honored and excited to serve on Indiana’s Hoosier Connect board and looks forward to impacting the success of NIL for all Indiana University Athletes.
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