Harlan rebuffs claims of desperation, framing the historic partnership as a bold, innovative blueprint for schools navigating the high-cost era of collegiate revenue sharing.
Utah athletics made history recently as the first institution to finalize a massive independent private equity deal with New York-based Otro Capital. There have been many options for the transaction, including some believing this was a lifeline for the Utes with no other option.
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan set the record straight about the details surrounding the investment and what it means for the future in Salt Lake City.
When Harlan was asked if other athletic departments would follow Utah’s lead, he explained why "The U" could play the role as a trailblazer in the new era. One of the biggest criticisms surrounding this decision was Utah standing alone and doing what was necessary.
"I don't agree with that," Harlan told KSL Sports about Utah taking a private equity deal out of desperation. "I don't think that's the feeling. I think maybe that's what you feel, but I don't. I don't feel that is what we're hearing. I think people are looking at an innovative approach that we've been working on for three years. Doing nothing was not going to work, right.
"I will say that come January when everyone's reporting how much it costs with the first year of revenue share going on, they're going to be looking at the schools that decided, you know what, we got to be bold. We got to be different. We got to figure something out that works for us. And that's what Taylor Randall and his staff, and all of we're able to do."
Harlan also said other college figureheads are surveying all the options and want to know what Utah is doing with Otro. Keep in mind, the investment firm has specialized in sports and dipping into the college scene is just a fraction of what they're building.
"I probably received no less than 30 to 40 phone calls from presidents and AD's asking how we structured this? So I don't think we've taken a lot of arrows. I know, we certainly have taken some, but I would say it's the opposite," Harlan added. "I think a lot of people have been impressed at what we're trying to do. And I think that it's our job to go out and try to make sure people understand that. And now that we've signed it, and now that people are arriving, that's what we're going to do."
Only time will tell if Utah will be viewed as a pioneer in this new era of college athletics and avoid disaster or whether this wasn't the best deal to make. Either way, Harlan is trying to position the Utes in a better financial situation.
