University of South Carolina student-athletes are educated each year on the proper procedures to follow when contacted by an agent, financial advisor or any individual seeking to represent the student-athlete in any capacity or a representative of such individual(s). Any information that you would like to provide to a student-athlete may be mailed to the Office of Compliance Services, which will be forwarded to each student-athlete.

The administration and coaches at USC are well aware of the fact that the majority of those engaged in representing professional athletes provide valuable services to their clients. However, due to the increasing number of problems involving agents and their intermediaries that have taken place throughout our country over the past few years, we have decided to take a pro-active stance. Our policies have been developed to provide a means by which we can protect our student-athletes and our institution from those who choose to conduct themselves in a less-than-ethical manner.

The Department of Athletics has no intention of creating barriers between our student-athletes and those who may be able to provide valuable services to them. However, in order to allow our student-athletes to focus upon their academic and athletics pursuits as they complete their careers with our athletics program, we stipulate that both our student-athletes and those who desire to represent them adhere to established policies and procedures.

Listed below are steps agents must take in order to avoid possible violations of State of South Carolina law:

• Agents must register with the SCDCA; an application for registration may be printed from the SCDCA. The initial application fee is $500 and renewals are $300. The certification is valid for two (2) years.
• Agents and/or the student-athlete must notify the student-athlete’s institution in writing within 72 hours of a student-athlete signing a contract.
• Agents may not give anything of value (e.g.; gifts, travel expenses.) to a student-athlete and/or the family member of a student-athlete before a contract is signed.
• Agents may not predate or postdate a contract.

Listed below are the policies that the University of South Carolina has in place to monitor agent interaction with student-athletes:

• Agents must register with the University of South Carolina by completing an application (PDF); this registration is valid for a period of two (2) years.
• The Director of Athletics, Head Coach or their Designee may approve an in-person meeting with a student-athlete, provided the meeting is arranged through the Director of Athletics, Head Coach or Designee and the student-athlete agrees to the meeting.
• Agents must provide copies of all correspondence sent to current University of South Carolina student-athletes to the Department of Athletics. Copies should be sent to:
  • Office of Compliance Services
    Attn: Hilary Cox
    Rice Athletics Center
    1304 Heyward Street
    Columbia, SC 29208

If you have any questions regarding the University of South Carolina’s Agent Policy please contact Hilary Cox, Assistant Athletics Director of Compliance, at (803) 777-7621.