About

Dr. Nickey Woods, Consultant

"Coaching success in today’s game requires more than strategy—it demands an intentional approach to team culture, communication, and leadership development. Effective coaching means understanding how athletes learn, what motivates them, and how to navigate the evolving landscape of NIL and revenue sharing. To build cohesive, high-performing teams, coaches must also manage external pressures, tense team dynamics, and the financial realities shaping today’s college locker rooms."

Dr. Nickey Woods is a recognized leader in coaching culture, NIL dynamics, and athlete development with a unique blend of personal and professional experience in sports. As an Associate Dean at the USC Gould School of Law and a former all-conference basketball player at UCLA, she has dedicated her career to bridging academics and athletics while mentoring student-athletes navigating today’s evolving collegiate landscape.

Her expertise extends into coaching consulting, team culture transformation, and maximizing athlete development in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. With first-hand knowledge as both an athlete and the parent of a former Division 1 football player, Dr. Woods understands the nuanced challenges that coaches face in maintaining a cohesive team culture when external financial incentives, media pressure, and player mobility are at play.

Key Highlights:

Founder of Live & Love The Women’s Game, a platform amplifying women’s sports and athlete empowerment.
Facilitator of high-level discussions with General Counsels from the Lakers and Clippers, as well as agents from KLUTCH Sports, CAA, and WME.
Award-winning leader, including being selected as a 2023 Bruin Business 100 honoree, a 2023 Los Angeles Lakers/Comerica Bank Woman of Diversity Award recipient, & USC Title IX Trailblazer.
Specialist in modern team dynamics, helping coaches navigate NIL conflicts, player retention, and leadership development.

Through her consulting, Dr. Woods provides coaches with actionable strategies to ensure that their teams remain focused, motivated, and connected, even in the face of NIL-driven distractions and revenue-sharing negotiations.