Utah
A Letter from Mark Harlan – University of Utah Athletics
It certainly is a new day in intercollegiate athletics, and the University of Utah is prepared to fully embrace it! The approval of the settlement in the House vs. NCAA case allows institutions to provide additional scholarships, enter into institutional Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreements with student-athletes and devote even greater resources to help them develop their brand and maximize their earning potential in NIL, in addition to other elements of the settlement.
The settlement puts in place consistent guidelines and structure that serves as a road map for the years ahead, one which will allow us to serve our student-athletes in new ways and enhance their experience at the University of Utah with even more impactful opportunities.
I’m incredibly proud of the work that has been done by our tremendous Utah Athletics staff to prepare for this moment. That work includes a reorganization of our staff to create a dedicated team that will focus on delivering expanded resources and education to empower Utah student-athletes to be standout brand ambassadors and grow their own brands while thriving in the new opportunities afforded to them.
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
We launched our comprehensive Elevate U program in June of 2021 to educate and equip our student-athletes with skills to maximize their opportunities in NIL once it became a permissible by the NCAA in July 2021.
Through Elevate U—and the eventual formation of the Crimson Collective and Who Rocks the House Collective—our student-athletes earned millions of dollars in NIL while participating in, and leading, meaningful service-focused events and activities in partnership with various charitable organizations throughout the Salt Lake valley. Through these opportunities provided by the Crimson Collective and Who Rocks the House Collective, our student-athletes spent nearly 7,500 hours helping 14 different organizations achieve their mission and goals. To date, our student-athletes have earned more than $10 million through these charitable NIL activities.
The success our student-athletes have experienced could not have been possible without the work of our incredible Utah supporters, who are passionate about our student-athletes and our sport programs, and who stepped forward and provided our student-athletes with tremendous opportunities to make an impact in our community and grow their brands.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
We are all-in on investing up to the maximum allowable in revenue share, which is approximately $20.5 million for 2025-26, though we are finalizing our plans for how the revenue will be shared. We also will add 23 new scholarships with a total value of $1.15 million, implement NIL contracts between the institution and student-athletes, and expand student-athlete endorsement opportunities with businesses and organizations.
Through our existing Elevate U program, we have increased our investment with the addition of a Brand Strategy and Governance team dedicated to providing Utah student-athletes comprehensive support as they build their brand, enter into non-exclusive contracts for limited-use rights to their NIL, and profit. You can learn more on that here.
In recent years, our athletics programs have enjoyed significant and sustained success, and we are committed to building upon that as we compete for championships at both the conference and national level. We have a renewed commitment to the culture of excellence that supports our student-athletes for success in the classroom, competition and community.
To further empower our student-athletes and enhance their experiences, I invite you to consider making a donation to the Crimson Club. Your support is vital in providing the resources necessary for our student-athletes to reach their full potential. Together, we can cultivate an environment of success and opportunity.
Thank you for all that you do!
Go Utes!
Mark Harlan
A Utah physician is warning that 21 data centers in various stages of development could significantly worsen air quality along the Wasatch Front.
Dr. Brian Moench, with Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said the planned data centers are cause for alarm. Each facility is expected to generate its own electricity using natural gas power plants.
While natural gas is cleaner than coal, Moench said it still produces nitrogen oxide, which contributes significantly to ozone, particulate formation, and smog.
“There’s no safe level of air pollution. All of it is harmful, even at the very lowest doses,” Moench said.
Moench said health advocates have legitimate reasons to be concerned about what the facilities could mean for public health in the region.
“There is a real legitimate concern on the part of any health advocates about what this impact will mean to the Wasatch Front and public health if all these data centers are built or even if just a few of them are, and that’s not to address the impact on the Great Salt Lake shrinking up and becoming a toxic dust bowl. That’s the next leg of this argument,” he said.
Moench also raised concerns about electronic waste. As computer chips and equipment become obsolete and are replaced, he said the volume of e-waste produced is something no one has yet addressed.
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UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
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