Green Wave Talent Fund Sets the Stage for Tulane’s Next Chapter in Athletics

Lead gifts from Doug and Lila Hertz, Don and Lora Peters and Richard Yulman have launched the Green Wave Talent Fund, a landmark initiative that positions Tulane Athletics to compete at the highest level in the new era of college athletics, in which student-athletes can receive compensation and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.

Multiple initial commitments are providing early support for the Green Wave Talent Fund, intended to underscore the urgency of strengthening Tulane’s position in an increasingly competitive national landscape. The fund offers supporters a powerful avenue to bolster Tulane’s on-field and on-court success, according to Tulane Athletics leadership.

“Tulane Athletics has entered a new era and is on an upward trajectory, along with the entire university, as it pursues academic and competitive excellence at the highest levels with a premier infrastructure and outstanding coaching staffs,” Tulane President Michael A. Fitts said.

“The Green Wave Talent Fund is our response to the changing landscape of college athletics,” said David Harris, the Ben Weiner Director of Athletics. “For the first time, we can directly provide significant payment, NIL opportunities and other new benefits to Tulane student-athletes. These investments recognize the value our student-athletes bring to the university and will be essential as we continue our competitive ascent. If supporting student-athletes in this way is meaningful to you, there’s never been an easier or more direct way to do it.”

Harris noted that these additional payments, benefits and NIL opportunities have become a key factor in building and sustaining championship-caliber programs. While not the only part of recruiting, this new financial support for athletes is now one consideration for prospective student-athletes.

Doug Hertz, longtime Tulane supporter and chair emeritus of the Board of Tulane, played a key role in spearheading efforts to support the Green Wave Talent Fund with top donors. He emphasized the importance of this new initiative.

“The ability to provide additional payments and NIL opportunities to athletes has reshaped the entire landscape of college sports,” Hertz said. “If Tulane wants to compete for championships — and continue the momentum we’ve built — then we must invest accordingly. The Green Wave Talent Fund gives us the ability to retain exceptional student-athletes, recruit future leaders and ensure Tulane remains nationally competitive for years to come.”

Additional gifts to the fund continue to reinforce this momentum. In December, former head football coach Jon Sumrall and his wife, Ginny, made a generous $100,000 contribution to the Green Wave Talent Fund in support of his successor, Head Coach Will Hall.

The formation of the fund follows a period of unprecedented success for Tulane Athletics in competition, with the Green Wave making the College Football Playoff for the first time. Likewise, off the field, Tulane student-athletes continue to excel academically, maintaining a 95% graduation success rate, the highest in both Louisiana and the American Conference.