Our Mission

The landscape of collegiate athletics has changed dramatically over recent years with no signs of slowing down. Factors such as NIL, increased use of the Transfer Portal, conference realignment, and overall fluid eligibility standards all impact the trajectory of a student-athlete’s collegiate career. There have already been examples where student-athletes have lost eligibility due to a simple lack of understanding of eligibility rules; a scenario that is entirely avoidable when armed with the correct information. Yes, coaches, their recruiting staffs, & compliance coordinators do their best to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. However, the hard truth is it’s their job to act in the best interest of their team and university, not necessarily student-athletes.

Our misson is to provide unbiased, up-to-date information that will directly impact each student-athlete that works with us. The NCAA is comprised of coaches that are exceptionally talented when it comes to recruiting, game planning, and execution. However, most recruiting pitches are going to be focused on the excellent universities and programs these coaches represent, rather than the intricacies of eligibility and how decisions made now might impact eligibility in the future. Our goal is to fill in these knowledge gaps and provide our clients with a wholistic, accurate understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape, ensuring they maximize their time as a student-athlete. 

Meet The Team

Matthew Tobin brings a diverse background in collegiate athletics, sports administration, and military service to his professional work in the sports industry. Matt began his collegiate athletic career as a student-athlete at Lindsey Wilson College, where he played one season of college athletics at the NAIA level. Following his time at Lindsey Wilson, he served four years in the United States Navy. After completing his military service, Matt continued his education at the University of Tennessee, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. During his time at Tennessee, he gained valuable experience working as an intern in the recruiting department for the Volunteers football program.

Matt went on to earn his Master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Indianapolis. His educational and professional experiences have provided him with a broad understanding of collegiate athletics across multiple levels of competition. Matt currently works as a part-time contractor for the NCAA Eligibility Center, where he continues to build upon his knowledge and experience in collegiate athletics and student-athlete eligibility.

Zach Thames grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, home of the Indiana Hoosiers. After graduating from Bloomington High School North, it was a no-brainer for him to stick around Bloomington for four more years and get his undergraduate degree from Indiana University. Growing up in a college town, Zach naturally developed a passion for college sports. After spending eight years working corporate jobs in technology and finance, he decided it was time to turn his passion into a career.

He and his co-founder, Matt, grew up together in Bloomington, and have always shared that same love for sports. With Zach's background in business and Matt's background in collegiate athletics, the duo realized how big of a knowledge gap exists between student-athletes and the complex eligibility rules that allow them to compete. The two decided to combine their professional backgrounds and create The Edge Ability - company that helps people navigate the complicated landscape of collegiate athletics and maintain eligibility throughout their careers as student-athletes.

Our Services Include:

Free One-Time Consultation: A focused advisory session to address your specific eligibility questions, review your academic or amateurism status, and provide actionable next steps.

Ongoing Advisory Retainer: Continuous support throughout the recruiting process or academic career, including eligibility monitoring, compliance guidance, and timely updates on rule changes.

In-Person Presentations: Face-to-face presentations for teams, athletic departments, parents & families, and anyone else that would benefit from having a greater understanding of collegiate athletics eligibility as a whole. Every session is built around the real, current issues affecting your student-athletes — from Transfer Portal decisions and amateurism rules to academic eligibility benchmarks and NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA compliance expectations. We cover what coaches won't tell you, what compliance officers don't have time to explain, and what every student-athlete needs to know before committing.

Full & Partial Eligibility Review Package: A comprehensive review of academic transcripts, amateurism history, transfer status, and recruiting compliance — everything you need to ensure full eligibility before signing day & onward.

Here at The Edge Ability, we don't just advise — we educate. Because the best defense against eligibility loss is knowledge, and knowledge shared in a room full of people who need it most is the most powerful tool we have.