Noah Henderson
Lecturer of Sport Management, Director of Sport Management Program
Noah Henderson is the Director of the Sport Management Program and a Clinical Instructor at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business. A widely recognized voice in sport management, his work explores the intersection of law, economics, and the social consequences of college athletics –– with a focus on name, image, and likeness (NIL), athlete labor rights, and sports gambling. Through his teaching, Henderson prepares students to lead in a dynamic era where college sports are rapidly professionalizing.
Henderson was at the forefront of NIL implementation. He helped amend Illinois’ NIL legislation and played a direct role in establishing early frameworks that facilitated the legal payment of college athletes. He continues to advise athletic departments, brands, and sports agents nationwide on NIL policy, legal compliance, and best practices. He has also provided written analysis that has been entered into the public record, contributing to national discourse on antitrust, roster structures, and athlete access in college athletics.
He contributed extensively to Sports Illustrated’s NIL Daily, where his reporting and commentary helped shape public understanding of the evolving business of college athletics. His insights have been featured by ESPN, NPR, CNN, PBS, Sportico, the Chicago Tribune, and others. He regularly speaks at accredited seminars and national symposiums, offering expertise on athlete rights and the future of college athletics.
He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and a degree in Economics from Saint Joseph’s University, where he was a four-year letter winner on the golf team.
Education
- JD, College of Law, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- BA, Economics, Saint Joseph's University
Research Interests
- Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Policy
- Collective Bargaining
- Sports Antitrust
- Roster Construction
- Sports Gambling
Courses Taught
- SPRT 130: The Business of Sports
- SPRT 320: Social Aspects of Sport Management
- SPRT 375: Sport Media
- SPRT 380: Legal Aspects in Sport Management
- SPRT 399: Special Topics - Sports Gambling
Publications/Research Listings
'Henderson, Noah. “2025 Might Be the Most Important College Basketball Transfer Portal Yet.” Sports Illustrated, 8 Apr. 2025. https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/2025-most-important-college-basketball-transfer-portal-yet
Henderson, Noah. “New Mexico Squandered the Best NIL Law.” Sports Illustrated, 14 Mar. 2024. https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/news/new-mexico-squandered-the-best-nil-law-noah9
Henderson, Noah. “NCAA’s NIL Regulations Push States Into a Novel Prisoner’s Dilemma.” Sports Illustrated, 18 Mar. 2024. https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/ncaas-nil-regulations-push-states-into-novel-prisoners-dilemma
Henderson, Noah. “Rethinking College Basketball Scholarships: Roster Construction Amid NIL Changes.” Sports Illustrated, 22 Apr. 2024. https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/rethinking-college-basketball-scholarships-roster-construction-amid-nil-changes
Henderson, Noah. “With NCAA Revenue Sharing, Emerges a New Antitrust Challenge.” Sports Illustrated, 28 May 2024. https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/with-ncaa-revenue-sharing-emerges-a-new-antitrust-challenge
Henderson, Noah. “It’s Time for the Regulation of Sports Gambling Promotions.” Sports Business Journal, 9 Oct. 2023 https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/10/09/oped-09-henderson
Henderson, Noah. “Student-athletes need an updated Uniform Athlete Agents Act” Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation, 19 Nov. 2023 https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/news/student-athletes-need-a-nil-updated-uniform-athlete-agents-act-noah9
Henderson, Noah. “NIL Collectives Generate Mid-Major Hoops Success” Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation, 12 Dec. 2023 https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/news/nil-collectives-generate-mid-major-hoops-success-noah9