COLUMBUS — Member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) have voted to allow high school athletes in the state to profit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
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The emergency bylaw referendum passed with 447 schools in favor, 121 schools against, and 247 schools abstaining from the vote.
Springfield, Centerville, Beavercreek, Kettering, Fairborn, and Trotwood schools all confirmed that they voted in favor. Carroll High School told News Center 7 that they abstained from voting.
With the vote, Ohio becomes the 45th state to allow NIL at the high school level.
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The new bylaw goes into effect immediately.
As News Center 7 previously reported, the emergency referendum vote was in response to a Franklin County judge’s temporary restraining order due to a lawsuit filed by Wayne High School’s star wide receiver, Jamier Brown.
News Center 7 spoke to Luke Fedlam, the attorney representing Brown’s family, about the result of the vote on Monday.
“I, along with Jamier and his family, were extremely excited when we heard the results of the vote,” Fedlam said.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Fedlam said that Brown’s family is going to drop their lawsuit following the vote.
“Ultimately, what Jamier and his family were looking for was the opportunity for all high school student athletes to earn compensation through NIL and to have that codified in the bylaws,” Fedlam said. “They’ve been successful with that, so ultimately, we’re gonna take steps, and we’ve talked with OHSAA. We’ll take necessary steps to dismiss the lawsuit against OHSAA.”
OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute thanked member schools for “taking ownership of this NIL bylaw proposal.”
“Whether our schools or individuals agree with NIL at the high school level or not, the courts have spoken on this issue across the country that the NCAA and high school athletic associations cannot prevent a student-athlete from making money on their NIL,” Ute said.
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