It was a term created by Walter Byers, the first head of the NCAA. He created the term to protect the NCAA from having to pay disability payments to players.
There was a player named Ray Dennison, who died from a head injury while playing football. Dennisonโs widow filed for workerโs comp and death benefits. To avoid paying out and creating a precedent, student athlete was born.
This is central to why the NCAA wonโt consider players to be employees โ avoiding accountability and liability.
Where did the term student athlete originate from?
Why was it coined?