Bond Schoeneck & King (BSK) is a preeminent law firm in collegiate athletics, where its reputation quite naturally precedes itself. That reputation was decades in the making, nurtured primarily by two high-profile sports lawyers – Mike Glazier and Rick Evrard. And while those two attorneys have stepped back from every day legal work (with Glazier retiring to consultant and Evrard moving to of counsel), the firm hasn’t missed a beat.
That’s primarily because of the emergence of Kyle Skillman, a partner at BSK, who has assumed a leadership role. Skillman has extensive experience advising on NCAA governance, Title IX compliance, and the development of NIL policies at a high level.
At a time when athletic programs and institutions face increasing scrutiny over athlete welfare, compensation, and organizational oversight, Skillman brings a practical, solutions-oriented approach to complex legal challenges.
What follows is a short interview with Skillman about emerging trends, compliance pressures, and what lies ahead for college sports administrators and their legal advisors.
Question: Tell us about how you got your start in sports law?
Answer: My start in sports law was with Bond. As I slowly crossed off areas of law school that did not interest me (e.g. family law, immigration, tax), I sought a return to the world I enjoyed as a former DI student-athlete. Fortunately, Bond’s Collegiate Sports Practice was in nearby Overland Park and had an opening for a summer clerk. I started as an hourly clerk in spring 2003 and never left.
Q: Tell us about why you have stayed at BSK all these years?
A: Initially, I stayed with the firm because it presented a unique opportunity for me to develop and sharpen a variety of skills: analyst, investigator, strategist and lawyer. Rick and Mike Glazier pushed me in all of those areas. Over time – with increased client exposure and a lot of attention from Rick, Mike and Steve Morgan – I found a very busy niche in which I get the privilege of solving problems every day with college athletics administrators, campus counsel, and NCAA staff who trust our expertise.
Q: What influence has Rick and Mike had on your career?
A: Rick and Mike had distinct, profound impacts on my career. Rick was a mentor in developing and maintaining relationships, managing client expectations, hustling, and working collaboratively with NCAA staff to resolve issues in the best interests of a client. Rick is a “people person” whose positive outlook helps clients see problems clearly, and his dedication to clients 24/7/365 is embedded in my approach to the business. Rick always advanced the message that the NCAA is a voluntary membership organization with rules that derive from its member institutions. Those are good reminders today, even as constant litigation shapes the collegiate model. My ability to connect with people, develop trust, and effectively counsel clients corner-to-corner/coast-to-coast was driven by working with Rick.
Mike demanded diligence, critical-thinking, organization and precision – the skills necessary to stay on top as a lawyer, industry leader and practice manager. Those fundamentals are rooted in the reputation and success of our practice and remain uncompromised. Steve had similar expectations, coupled with an unmatched knowledge of the origin, intent and intricacy of NCAA rules and governance structure.
Q: What are the plans for the practice group and what trends are you tracking for 2026?
A: Our focus for 2026 is to continue working diligently to resolve clients’ NCAA-related issues and grow the practice by adapting to a somewhat changing landscape. In addition to the steady stream of NCAA enforcement and eligibility matters, we anticipate more of our attention will shift to matters involving the College Sports Commission as that entity builds out its staff and begins enforcement operations relating to NIL and revenue sharing. Other trends include tracking/reporting/resolving impermissible contacts (“tampering”), academic misconduct, and an increasing number of sports wagering/eligibility cases.
