Check Out Courtney Funchess’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Funchess.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I come from a family of athletes, so I always knew I wanted to work in the sports industry — it was just a matter of figuring out in what capacity. When I got to the University of Michigan, I thought I wanted to go into Athletic Training, but Biology quickly humbled me, so I took the sports business route. While enrolled, I interned with the football department in Recruiting Operations under the Director of Player Personnel and found my passion. On a weekly basis, I would meet with prospective athletes and their families. Being able to offer my expertise as a student and liaison of the department fueled my passion of assisting student-athletes in making decisions for their careers and a future in sports. Upon graduation, I moved to New Orleans to work with the Allstate Sugar Bowl in Event and Marketing Operations while simultaneously assisting the New Orleans Pelicans Media Relations Department. Both of these experiences laid the foundation to earning a position working in Public Relations with the New Orleans Saints. While in this role, I was responsible for overseeing media interactions with players and coaches. Occasionally, I would accompany the players on their weekly community visits and was afforded the opportunity to recap those trips and publish the reports in the weekly game book. After completing my time in New Orleans, I found myself still dreaming about becoming an NFL Agent and helping my community of student-athletes prepare for the next level. After passing the NFLPA Certification Exam in 2021, I was finally able to do so. I have since represented over 5 athletes, hosted several events educating amateur athletes in preparing for collegiate football and beyond as well as creating a space for sports professionals in the greater Detroit metropolitan area. It is my mission to educate aspiring athletes and assist them in realizing their potential on and off the field. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course not! As an African American woman, pursuing a career in a male-dominated industry I’ve encountered obstacle after obstacle. But I never let any challenge deter me from achieving my goals. In fact, I embrace them and face them head-on. For starters, I was originally supposed to sit for my exam in 2020, but Covid. Postponing my exam provided an opportunity to be more prepared which resulted in passing on the first try! There are so many challenges the NFL Agents face. One of the biggest barriers to entry of being an NFL Agent, is access to capital. The top athletes want to train at the most notable training facilities, and they come with a big ticket. On average it costs $45,000 to upwards of hundreds of thousands to prepare just one athlete for the NFL draft. Not to mention the hot topic of NIL (name, image, and likeness). Every student athlete wants an opportunity to get paid through marketing and endorsements, but the reality of the situation is — it’s not attainable for everybody. Since its adoption, NIL has had an uptick in transfer portal declarations which is pretty scary. Another challenge is proving my experience qualifies me to represent athletes. I’m constantly trying to prove to 20-year-olds why I am the right agent to represent them, which I feel my counterparts have a much easier time doing. All in all, in due time, what’s for me will be just that, and these obstacles will make for a much better story! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an NFL Agent, I encourage young athletes to learn as much as they can early on so they, too can make more informed decisions along their careers. Student athletes can earn income with the help of the adoption of NIL as early as high school so it’s important for them to know the ins and outs. Though I don’t do much work with NIL, I provide any information I am privy to in hopes that fewer athletes will be taken advantage of. 

My main focus as an NFL Agent is contract negotiations and preparing my clients for their second careers. On average, an NFL careers lasts about three years. I encourage my clients and potential clients to think about what their second careers would be prior to the draft because three years can come and go very quickly. But also due to the importance of capitalizing on your career in the league while they’re still playing. Players are able to leverage their status and relationships more when people know they are in the league. Planning and preparation are key! 

I am so proud of the connections I’ve made so far. I’ve had the opportunity to speak to many audiences – small and large – to share my experiences and expertise. I tell my prospects that I recruit, “Though I would love for them to sign with me, I’m happy knowing I provided them with the resources and education they need to make informed decisions about their futures, and that makes my job worthwhile.” 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Social media is crucial! If you don’t have a footprint in the digital world, it’s make this job much more difficult. Leveraging your presence online can help in being a successful NFL Agent. 

Contact Info:

• Website: sidelinesynergy.com
• Instagram: @courtneybianca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfunchessmba/
• Twitter: @c_funchess
• Other: https://linktr.ee/Cfunch