Jim McIngvale is making a difference through NIL at the University of Houston.
McIngvale, also known as “Mattress Mack”, is impacting many Cougars on the men’s basketball team through a deal with Gallery Furniture. Players are able to access funds through the NIL deal to help pay for family members to attend the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham.
The NIL deal was facilitated through Houston-focused NIL collective LinkingCoogs.
“Well you know I’m a big supporter of the Cougar NIL program. So with that money we’ve been able to bring in a lot of the parents of all of the players to the game and some of their friends,” McIngvale said Thursday night in a video posted by FOX26 Houston. “A lot of the players sent me notes last week thanking us for using the NIL money to bring in their parents to the game. So they’re here watching the game, and it should be very exciting.”
Jim McIngvale (@MattressMack), is supporting @UHCougarMBK players, going above and beyond. His Name, Image and Likeness agreement with the players is allowing them to access funds to pay for their families to attend the NCAA Tournament. The deal was facilitated by #LinkingCoogs: pic.twitter.com/O1FFJubXPJ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 17, 2023
After the game, Elvin Shead, the father of Houston guard Jamal Shead, shared his appreciation for McIngvale, saying that “it’s a great deal to our family.”
“It allowed us to get here without worrying about other things. So this is a big deal for us, and we’re very appreciative,” Elvin Shead said in a video.
Jim McIngvale’s (@MattressMack) NIL deal with @UHCougarMBK players, facilitated by #LinkingCoogs, allows them to access funds to pay for their families to attend the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham. Elvin Shead, Jamal’s dad: “It’s a great deal..Thank you from all the families.” pic.twitter.com/MM9ix6fKkq
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 17, 2023
Houston forward Jarace Walker finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds and two blocks to lead the Cougars to 63-52 victory over Northern Kentucky on Thursday night.
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Jamal Shead added 13 points, six assists, and three boards for the Cougars — the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region.
Houston will face ninth-seeded Auburn on Saturday.
