Nike Signs Exclusive Five-Year Deal With Univ. Of North Florida

Nike Will Supply All 17 Univ. Of North Florida Athletic Teams With Apparel, Footwear

Nike has signed an exclusive five-year deal with the Univ. of North Florida (UNF) to supply 17 of the school’s athletic teams with apparel and footwear. The school has a one-year transition period to end contracts with other outfitters (UNF). In Jacksonville, Francine King reports the agreement, a "first in UNF athletics history, allows for the creation of a UNF line of Nike gear that will ensure a consistent look" for the school's teams. Nike will supply UNF with "practice apparel and game uniforms, which will display the company's swoosh logo." UNF AD Lee Moon: "For us to be an all-sports school for Nike and not really have football, I think that's a big statement for where they think we can be potentially." Moon said that school athletics personnel "will work with Nike to design UNF's line, which will be available for purchase at UNF's campus bookstore and other local sports retailers." King notes the upcoming school year is the first year UNF is a "full-fledged member of Division I athletics" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/7). The JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL noted Nike "will not be paying cash to UNF, but will provide discounts and an undisclosed amount of free products." UNF's volleyball and men's and women's soccer teams are "likely to be the first squads to play in all Nike apparel this fall" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/6).