Fila USA has signed Seton Hall men's basketball coach
Tommy Amaker to a multiyear sponsorship deal that "marks
Fila's first major foray into the competitive world of
collegiate affiliations with shoe companies," according to
Timothy Mullaney of the Baltimore SUN. Fila VP/Advertising
Howe Burch: "If we're going to start with a program, and all
the major, major programs are locked up, he's a good, good
guy to start our college basketball activity." Burch said
another reason for signing Amaker was his "long-standing
relationship with [Fila endorser] Grant Hill," whom Amaker
recruited to play at Duke when he was an assistant coach.
Seton Hall players will wear Fila's Hill IV shoe. Terms of
the deal were not disclosed, but industry sources told
Mullaney that a deal for a school "like Seton Hall is likely
to include" a low six-figure stipend for Amaker, free
uniforms and shoes for the team, sponsorship of Amaker's TV
show, arena signage and promotions. Last year, Seton Hall's
shoes and uniforms were supplied by Reebok. Fila's only
previous college basketball involvement was with Coppin
State (Baltimore SUN, 6/19).
