Wheat Shock Collective Introduces New General Manager
Wichita State University alumna and former student-athlete Emily Hiebert will lead Wheat Shock Collective through its next period of growth.
WICHITA, Kan. (June 20, 2024) – Wheat Shock Collective, the official collective supporting NIL opportunities for Shocker student-athletes, is thrilled to announce its newly appointed General Manager, Emily Hiebert, signaling a transformation and pivotal phase of growth for the collective.
“I’m beyond excited to lead Wheat Shock Collective and further the collective’s mission to empower Shocker student-athletes,” Hiebert said. “The importance of NIL in the recruitment and retention of elite championship-level talent cannot be understated. With oversight and guidance from Blueprint Sports, I look forward to ensuring the success of the Wheat Shock Collective and the Wichita State athletic programs. Most of all, I’m thrilled to be back at the heart of Shocker Nation, to serve our student-athletes, and to be around the best fans in the country once again.”
As general manager, Hiebert will formalize and spearhead Wheat Shock Collective’s strategic vision. Emily’s leadership will focus on driving new fundraising and membership growth, developing corporate partnerships, managing the collective’s operations and the relationship with the athletic department, and serving as the collective’s public face.
“In recent weeks, the NIL collective has formalized a transition from Armchair Strategies to the Wheat Shock Collective, through an agreement with Blueprint Sports,” said Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. “One of the benefits in doing so has been Blueprint Sports’ hiring of a dedicated General Manager responsible for leading – on a full-time basis - the day-to-day operations of the Wheat Shock Collective. As a league champion, NCAA tournament participant, conference setter of the year and recent inductee into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, Emily is the perfect choice and will continue to lead the Wheat Shock Collective with great character and integrity. We could not be more excited to partner with Blueprint Sports and Emily in advancing the collective to meet the critical developmental needs of our student-athletes and programs as we strive to align championship-level resources with championship expectations. We offer our sincere thanks to Shocker Nation for their past, present and future support as we build the Wheat Shock Collective together.”
A Kansas native, Hiebert has been involved with sports her entire life and played both basketball and volleyball all four years at Newton High School.
After high school, Hiebert attended Wichita State University on a volleyball scholarship where she majored in Physical Education and minored in Exercise Science. Emily played volleyball for the Shockers from 2013-2017 and was a Shocker Pizza Hut Hall of Fame Inductee in 2023. She earned conference Setter of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017 and was a three-time first-team all-conference selection. She led the team to three NCAA tournament appearances and two conference regular-season titles. She finished her career as the career leader in assists and assists per set.
After graduating from WSU, Hiebert taught Physical Education and Health in the Wichita Public School District, before taking on the role of General Manager at Wheat Shock Collective.
"Emily Hiebert's appointment as General Manager marks a pivotal moment for Wheat Shock Collective, ushering in a new era of leadership and dedication to the success of Shocker student-athletes,” said Logan Craghead, Director of Client Relations at Blueprint Sports. “Her experience as a student-athlete at Wichita State coupled with her passion for empowering Shockers through NIL aligns seamlessly with our mission, promising to elevate the collective’s impact and solidify the future of Shocker Athletics. We’re excited to support her and take Wichita State’s NIL operations to the next level.”
“As the collective transitions from Armchair Strategies to a partnership with Blueprint Sports - re-branded the Wheat Shock Collective - we are thrilled Emily Hiebert will be leading the NIL team at Wichita State,” said Tyler Weber & Tymber Lee, formerly of Armchair Strategies. “Her firsthand experience as a Shocker student-athlete and strong fan base connections, make her an invaluable leader of the Wheat Shock Collective. As we pass the baton to Blueprint Sports and Emily’s leadership of the Wheat Shock Collective, we remain committed to supporting the NIL program as passionate members of Shocker Nation! Go Shockers!”
For more information about Wheat Shock Collective, visit wheatshockcollective.com and follow them on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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ABOUT WHEAT SHOCK COLLECTIVE
Wheat Shock Collective is a fan-driven and alumni-led Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective for Wichita State University student-athletes, alumni, and fans. Community members who commit their support to Wheat Shock Collective are pledging to maximize opportunities for student-athletes. In addition, community supporters gain access to exclusive events, autograph sessions, and more. Wheat Shock Collective is powered by parent company Blueprint Sports. For more information, visit wheatshockcollective.com and follow @WheatShockNIL on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
