ORLANDO - UCF Athletics has expanded its Brand Partnerships team with the addition of two new leaders, welcoming Antwan Owens as Director of Strategic Development and NIL Partnerships, and Kennedy Watson as Director of Brand Partnerships.
Watson and Owens bring a combined background in revenue generation, brand strategy, and student-athlete-centered partnership development as UCF Athletics continues to build innovative corporate relationships and advance its competitive vision in the Big 12 Conference.
Owens will lead revenue-focused strategy and NIL initiatives that support student-athlete opportunity and brand growth across the department. He has been recognized by Forbes as a 30 Under 30 honoree for his work connecting athletes with innovative branding deals and investment opportunities. He was also among the first student-athletes to ever sign a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal, giving him a unique, firsthand perspective on the evolution of NIL and its impact on collegiate athletics.
Owens brings a student-athlete-focused, revenue-driven approach to building partnerships, developing scalable NIL platforms, and aligning corporate strategy with UCF Athletics’ long-term goals in the Big 12. His background in corporate partnerships, NIL advisory, and strategic development strengthens UCF’s commitment to innovation, growth, and enhanced student-athlete support.
A four-year football letterman and graduate of Georgia Tech, Owens also competed at Jackson State University under Deion Sanders during his graduate studies before playing professionally for three seasons.
In her new role, Watson will contribute to the development and implementation of revenue-generating opportunities across athletics. Her role places emphasis on brand partnerships, Naming Rights, NIL, Licensing and Merchandising, while also collaborating with campus and athletics stakeholders to ensure consistency of the UCF Athletics brand across all platforms.
Watson brings extensive experience in sales leadership, event management, and partnership development, most recently serving as General Manager with REVELxp, where she oversaw revenue strategy, partnership execution, and large-scale collegiate and corporate events. She has successfully managed multi-million-dollar sales portfolios and built strong relationships with athletic departments and corporate partners, positioning her to immediately impact UCF’s brand and revenue growth efforts.
Together, Watson and Owens add valuable expertise to UCF Athletics’ Brand Partnerships team as the department continues to expand its brand presence, deepen corporate partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes.
Get involved with the Knights!
Knight Nation has always been our greatest competitive advantage, whether you’re a business looking to gain big-time exposure or an individual or a family looking to support the Knights on and off the field now is the time to get involved! For more information, click here.
How Businesses Can Get Involved:
Orlando’s business community plays an important role in expanding NIL opportunities for UCF student-athletes. Your company can join more than 50 partners like Orlando Health, NOBULL, Addition Financial, Carl Black, Geico, Raising Canes, Powerade, Portillo's and Miller’s Ale House that have already connected with UCF Athletics and our student-athletes to create sponsorships, digital content, appearances, and fan-focused campaigns.
Our goal is to welcome 50 additional corporate partners into our network to advance the future of UCF Athletics while aligning with your business strategy across three key tracks:
- Corporate Partnership: Becoming a corporate partner through UCF Sports Properties provides access to powerful marketing platforms for your brand message through UCF athletics gameday assets and multimedia platforms. A corporate partnership paired with an NIL deal enables you to amplify your brand’s exposure by leveraging both UCF and athlete assets.
- Corporate Donor: Includes tailored philanthropic opportunities for corporate partners looking for community impact or brand visibility through NIL. Members can receive enhanced access to tickets, parking, special events, and the chance to directly support student-athletes.
- Athlete partnership: We can connect you directly to a student-athlete to engage through true, third-party NIL opportunities (subject to approval via CSC/NIL Go).
Third-party NIL can play a major role in shaping programs over the next decade. UCF has a unique position to lead nationally, thanks to Orlando’s global business community, our innovative university environment, and our growing national profile.
We invite your business to consider one or a hybrid of all three of these avenues to provide meaningful ways for businesses to elevate UCF Athletics while aligning their brands with the energy of Knight Nation. Please complete this interest form and a staff member will be in contact with you.