Rutgers Officially Announces Deal With Adidas

Keith Sargeant of NJ Advance Media reported last week that Rutgers was close to moving from Nike to Adidas for sponsorship

The press release from Rutgers did not include any financial details. On the Banks has made a request through the Open Public Records Act for a copy of the contract.

In it’s release, Athletic Director Pat Hobbs was excited about the opportunity of working with adidas. “Everyone here at Rutgers is excited to be partnering with adidas,” said Hobbs. “Our coaches and students know they will be getting outstanding apparel and equipment with which to compete. As important, adidas will bring unmatched service to our programs. We look forward to celebrating much success together, both on and off the field.”

The statement seems to indicate that Rutgers will be getting the top effort from the Oregon-based company. “We’re really excited about the future of athletics at Rutgers and we’re honored to welcome the Scarlet Knights into the adidas family,” said Jim Murphy, director of NCAA Sports Marketing at adidas America. “We’re going to bring our most innovative and high-performance products, along with our creativity and collaborative efforts to help Rutgers deliver on their vision for the future of Scarlet Knights sports.”

Without financial details, the speculation of what would be included remains. On the Banks posted previously about how Rutgers was the lowest paid P5 school in terms of apparel contracts. We followed up with a post addressing at least some of the issues Rutgers presents to potential apparel suitors.

The coaches of the biggest revenue sports offered positive thoughts about the deal. Chris Ash, who wanted a cleaner, more classic look for the football team, was expectedly supportive. "We are extremely excited about our new partnership with adidas. We are committed to giving our student-athletes the best to help them on and off the field. adidas is the perfect partner to outfit our players as they compete."

Steve Pikiell, who has to deal with the connections that AAU teams have with various shoe companies on the recruiting trail, also offered a positive spin. "Partnering with adidas is the right move at the right time. As we embark on this exciting new era under Pat Hobbs, our affiliation with this global leader will strengthen our brand locally, nationally and worldwide. adidas’ track record of outfitting world-class athletes will be a strong asset as we work toward shared excellence. Those three stripes are synonymous with success. We are confident this relationship will help elevate our program and Rutgers Athletics."

It was the same with C. Vivian Stringer, who previously had her own contract with Nike. "adidas is a globally known brand that is committed and enthusiastic about serving the Rutgers Athletics community. We look forward to seeing the innovative design for game and team apparel they have in store for the Scarlet Knights."

As financial details come out, On the Banks will report on them.