Southern Miss athletics yesterday announced Adidas "will become the sole outfitter of all 16 sports" beginning in '18, according to a front-page piece by Jason Munz of the HATTIESBURG AMERICAN. Financial terms of the deal that runs through the '24-25 season "will not be available publicly." But a source said that the deal "will net 'well north'" of $4M in "product allocation." The source added that Adidas will also "allot a dollar amount 'in the low- to- mid-six figures' for product activation (i.e. advertising, recruiting, etc.)." The contract calls for Adidas to "provide apparel only -- not equipment." Southern Miss and Adidas also "agreed to an unspecified incentive/bonus compensation figure for any athletic team that advances to the NCAA postseason." The school's current apparel pact with Russell Athletics, signed in '13 and worth $2.75M, expires June 30, 2018. Southern Miss is Russell’s "last remaining partner at the collegiate level, as it seeks to officially exit the NCAA apparel market" (HATTIESBURG AMERICAN, 11/1). Southern Miss AD Jon Gilbert said, "It is the first ever all-apparel deal in the history of Southern Miss athletics. We will benefit from their marketing and branding expertise. We will also certainly benefit financially and from the product they are providing us. They will provide a consistent look and feel for all our teams" (Biloxi SUN HERALD, 11/1).
