The Wayne Estes Fund was established in 2018 to provide critical support for Aggie Men’s Basketball—with a focus on recruiting, coaching excellence, and operational flexibility. The goal was simple: build a championship-caliber program that consistently competes at the highest level.

That goal remains the same. But the game has evolved.

A New Era in College Basketball

The landscape of intercollegiate athletics has undergone a seismic shift. Where once elite facilities and coaching were enough, today’s programs must be agile, resourced and relentlessly forward-thinking. The Estes Fund remains our engine to do just that.

With the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement on June 6, 2025, universities are now permitted to implement revenue sharing and enhanced NIL programming, shifting the way programs operate. Embracing this new opportunity will be the path forward.

The Impact of Your Estes Fund Gift

Gifts to the Estes Fund have never been more impactful than they are today. The top strategic focuses for the Estes Fund will be enhancing institutional name, image, and likeness and revenue sharing opportunities for men's basketball student-athletes. This investment is critical to elevating the championship standard of Utah State men's basketball through the recruitment and retention of the next generation of Aggie greats.
The Estes Fund and its passionate members are a community of Aggies dedicated to building long-term success. In return for that commitment, friends of Aggie men's basketball, through their contributions to the Estes Fund, will be provided with exclusive experiences and access commensurate with their level of investment.
  • Team shoes
  • Official team travel gear
  • Invitation to travel with the team to a road game*

Fair Market Value = $1,000
* Additional expenses may apply
  • Autographed team basketball
  • Aggie Basketball game day for two (includes game tickets, shoot around, pre-game meal with the team)
  • Estes Fund dinner hosted by the Calhoun family

Fair Market Value = $500
  • Utah State men’s basketball team apparel package
  • Autographed team photo
  • Invitation to four chalk-talk events

Fair Market Value = $125
  • Utah State men’s basketball workout shirt
  • Invitation to preseason tip-off event
  • VIP Seating at the Aggie Coaches Show in Logan
Fair Market Value = $25

FAQ

Yes. New legislation at both the state and NCAA level allows for institutional support of NIL and revenue share initatives. Gifts to the Estes Fund are processed by the Utah State University Foundation into the men's basketball recruitment and retention fund and are tax deductible minus the fair market value of any benefits received. Please consult your tax adviser for more details.

Gifts to the Estes Fund have always been used to elevate Aggie men's basketball in various ways. With shifting priorities, gifts to the Estes Fund will now exclusively be used to recruit and retain men's basketball student-athltes.

Gifts to the Estes Fund will count towards your annual Big Blue Club membership level and earn priority points. Gifts to the Estes Fund can not be used in place of priority seat requirements attached to season tickets.

The Blue A Collective plays an important role in supporting our student-athletes. Supporting institutional NIL through the Estes Fund allows the university to recognize donors and reward them for their paticipation through the Big Blue Club. Gifts to the Blue A Collective are separate from the university and are not recognized in a donor's Big Blue Club level or university lifetime giving.