BIRMINGHAM – What do Tiger Woods, LeBron James and the Southwestern Athletic Conference all have in common?
NIKE!
The Southwestern Athletic Conference and NIKE have signed a five-year agreement to be the exclusive footwear provider for all SWAC athletic teams.
“We are delighted about our agreement with our newest corporate partner,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “NIKE has long been synonymous with the greatest athletes in the history of sports, including among others SWAC legend Jerry Rice. Most importantly, this partnership tremendously benefits over 4,000 of our student athletes and coaches, as well as our conference as a whole and we are excited to be a part of the NIKE family.”
Under the agreement, all Southwestern Athletic Conference student-athletes will compete in official NIKE footwear. In addition, game officials for select sports will also wear NIKE footwear. The framework of the agreement was agreed upon during the fall of 2008, which allowed for SWAC student-athletes in season during that time to train and compete in NIKE footwear as the final details were completed.
“Nike is pleased to establish this partnership with the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and honored that the student-athletes of the SWAC will compete in our footwear products,” Kit Morris, Director of College Sports Marketing for NIKE. “The SWAC is an important conference with a rich tradition, both in academics and athletics. This record of achievement and excellence mirrors the standards of our brand.”
“I’d like to thank Kit Morris, Rashanna Moss-Lowry, Joan Scott and Larry Harper of NIKE for their commitment to the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” Commissioner Sharp said. “As a conference office, we are dedicated to doing everything we can to enhance the student-athlete experience at our member institutions and with the assistance of our new partnership with NIKE, we have furthered that effort.”
