Adidas and Miami Announce Partnership
MIAMI – adidas and the University of Miami today announced a landmark 12-year partnership making adidas the official athletic footwear, apparel and accessory brand of the Hurricanes through June of 2027.
“The University of Miami was the first college program to excel as a national brand with championship play on the field, changing the game of college athletics,” said Mark King, adidas Group North America president. “Their unmatched success, national relevance and cultural significance make them a perfect fit for adidas as we continue to significantly invest and grow our business in the U.S. Florida is a key battleground and home to some of the best athletic talent in the country. We’re proud to have Miami as a key pillar of our future business.”
“The University of Miami is thrilled to partner with adidas, a world-class organization whose creativity, technology and quality have made it among the world’s leaders in athletic apparel,” said Blake James, Director of Athletics for the University of Miami. “The multi-year agreement will enable us to enhance our student-athlete experience by providing top-quality apparel and equipment to our students and coaches in addition to adding significant resources to support our Department. Our new partnership will help expand the UM brand locally, nationally and globally and will help Miami to continue to be one of the nation’s premier athletic programs.”
The partnership, which makes the University of Miami one of adidas’ 13 licensed NCAA programs, begins on September 1, 2015and includes investment, product and uniform development for all 18 intercollegiate Hurricane athletics programs.
adidas partners hailing from the University of Miami include NFL stars Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints, Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers and U.S. Olympic hurdler T’erea Brown.
“It is an exciting day for the brand I love and my university,” said Graham, class of 2009. “adidas brings sports and culture together and that is a perfect fit for the U and the city of Miami.”
adidas is the official uniform and apparel provider for the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer and develops high-performance footwear, apparel and accessories for more than 70 collegiate programs including Michigan, Texas A&M, UCLA, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Louisville, Mississippi State, Indiana, Kansas, Cincinnati, North Carolina State and Arizona State.
About University of Miami
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.
About University of Miami Athletics
The University of Miami Department of Athletics sponsors 18 varsity athletic teams and features over 400 student athletes that compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Located in Coral Gables, Fla., Miami’s athletic teams have won 16 national championships. Through athletic competition, the department prepares its student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics and life.
What They are Saying
“The adidas brand has been a mark of excellence that has represented some of the finest Olympic athletes, collegiate institutions, professional organizations and professional athletes, including former Hurricanes and current NFL stars Jimmy Graham and Frank Gore. We could not be more excited about the commitment adidas has shown to the University of Miami Football program. Our student-athletes will see significant benefits on a day-to-day basis thanks to this exclusive partnership”
Al Golden, Miami Football Head Coach
“adidas is a legendary worldwide brand and our University of Miami basketball program is proud to be partnering with them. From the hugely popular Superstar and Pro Model shoes of the 1960s to the cutting edge performance uniforms in the NBA today, adidas has been an integral part of the basketball culture for a very long time. We appreciate their tremendous commitment and investment in us and look forward to working with them.”
Jim Larrañaga, Miami Men’s Basketball Head Coach
“The University of Miami’s partnership with a worldwide brand like adidas will play a such a positive role in recruiting and will significantly enhance our student-athletes’ collegiate experience. We can’t thank adidas for their commitment and we look forward to working with them moving forward.”
Katie Meier, Miami Women’s Basketball Head Coach
“The footprint of adidas in the track and field world cannot be overstated. Through their innovative apparel and footwear technology, adidas has outfitted some of the finest athletes to ever step foot on the track and I am thrilled to call them a partner of the University of Miami track and field program.”
Amy Deem, Miami Track & Field and Cross Country Head Coach
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