Meritrust Credit Union’s new partnership with Wichita State freshman guard Pierre Couisnard and his father, P.J. Couisnard, is built around more than name-image-likeness (NIL) branding. It’s a community-focused effort to promote financial confidence and long-term stability for students, parents, families and every Shocker in Wichita.
For Meritrust, the Couisnards represent the values they want to elevate: legacy, resilience, leadership and giving back. And for the Couisnards, the partnership is a way to use their platform at Wichita State to help young people understand money at a time when NIL earnings are reshaping college sports.
“Basketball has always been about more than the game. It’s about building a strong foundation with the right team — exactly how you succeed on the court and in life,” Pierre said in the announcement. “Partnering with Meritrust gives me and my dad an opportunity to help people understand the importance of financial health.”
His father, P.J., now an assistant coach for WSU, added:
“Managing money wisely now will create opportunities for success for the rest of their lives.”
A Shocker Legacy Comes Full Circle
P.J. Couisnard is remembered as one of the most versatile and impactful players in Wichita State history. From 2003–08, he was a key figure in the program’s resurgence and a leader during the Shockers’ unforgettable 2006 Sweet Sixteen run. He finished his career with more than 1,300 points and remains the only Shocker to reach elite combined totals in scoring, assists, steals, blocks and rebounds.
After graduating, he returned to Houston, where he spent years coaching youth and high school basketball, shaping young players and building a respected program. One of those players was his son, Pierre, who played for his father at the Legacy School of Sport Sciences.
Pierre’s path to Division I basketball included overcoming a serious childhood knee injury that required two surgeries and years of rehabilitation — a journey that deepened his discipline and focus. Now a freshman at WSU, he steps into Koch Arena carrying his family’s history while building his own.
NIL Opened Financial Doors — But Also New Risks
The NCAA’s decision on July 1, 2021, to allow athletes to earn money through NIL deals created new opportunities — particularly for young Black athletes who have long contributed to billion-dollar college sports programs without compensation.
But it also introduced new challenges. Research shows:
- Many student-athletes have little financial literacy training.
- Sudden income leads to tax complications and mismanagement.
- College athletes are more vulnerable to bad deals or predatory advisors than pros, who have unions and vetted financial teams.
These concerns are not limited to athletes. Students, parents and families across Wichita face similar gaps in understanding budgeting, credit, long-term planning and generational wealth.
A Partnership With Broad Purpose
That’s why Meritrust designed this initiative to reach entire households, not just athletes. Pierre and P.J. will help promote financial well-being tools, workshops and messaging aimed at students, families, and the broader Wichita community — reinforcing that smart financial decisions start early and affect a lifetime.
Meritrust has not released the financial terms of the agreement, but the focus is clear: pairing two well-respected members of the Shocker family with a mission to help the next generation navigate money with confidence and clarity.
For Pierre and P.J., NIL may be the backdrop — but the message is bigger:
Financial empowerment is for everyone, and the time to start is now.
Really inspiring to see Pierre and P.J. Couisnard using their platform for something bigger than basketball. Financial literacy is a life skill many young athletes — and families — don’t get early enough. This partnership with Meritrust feels like a real step toward empowering the whole community, not just promoting NIL deals. Great to see athletes giving back and helping others build smarter financial futures.