Western Kentucky today will announce a five-year partnership with Nike set to start next summer that will see the company become the "official 'head-to-toe' on-field provider for all 16 Hilltopper and Lady Topper sports programs," according to sources cited by Brad Stephens of the BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS. Sources said that financial terms are "still to be determined." WKU yesterday announced it had "mutually discontinued its exclusive on-field sponsorship agreement with Russell Athletic." The Nike deal "comes less than two years after a five-year extension between WKU and Russell was announced" in August '15. The $3.5M renewal was scheduled to run from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021. Russell had been partnered with WKU since '07, and the apparel provider’s "stake in college sports seems to be dwindling." Earlier this month it was announced the Orlando-based Russell Athletic Bowl "will now be called the Camping World Bowl." Ohio Univ. last month also ended its Russell partnership and entered a "deal with Adidas." Georgia Tech does still have a contract with Russell that runs through '18, and Southern Miss is "also sponsored by Russell" (BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS, 4/25).
