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Kansas renews deal with adidas

adidas

The University of Kansas announced last Thursday that they are renewing their partnership with adidas through 2019.

Adidas has sponsored Kansas athletics since 2005, and before that the Jayhawks were sponsored by Nike. Per the report from the Kansas athletic department, the six-year extension is worth in excess of $26 million.

Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger had this to say about their partnership with adidas:

We have been extremely pleased with our partnership with adidas. adidas promised quality and dedication to service – to all our teams – and they have delivered what they promised. The fact that adidas eagerly sought to extend our partnership clearly demonstrates to us their continued understanding of the tremendous value of the entire Kansas Athletics program.

Said David Baster, Vice President of Sport Performance with adidas: “We are proud of our relationship with KU’s outstanding athletics program. We are excited to have KU athletes, coaches and fans wear adidas and look forward to continuing our successful partnership.”

Some may chalk this up as news of little importance, but don’t tell that to Bill Self and other coaches around the country. Recall two years ago when Archie Goodwin publicly stated one of the primary reasons he would not be playing basketball for Scott Drew and Baylor was due to their partnership with adidas. Yes, because Baylor wears adidas apparel, that was a deal-breaker for Archie Goodwin:

Coach Scott Drew is a great guy. I love Coach Drew. They were one of the first schools that were recruiting me. But I didn’t like that they were an adidas team, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t go to Kansas because Kansas is a great team. I can look over the adidas thing -- I own some adidas stuff. I didn’t like their colors, either. I don’t like green and gold. That’s ugly …. When you got ugly colors like that, you gotta be Nike. …. Baylor has some ugly shoes, too.”

Goodwin ended up at Kentucky. Kentucky has the Nike swoosh on their jerseys.

Reverting back to Kansas, their new deal is one of the richest in adidas’ portfolio of over 70 collegiate clients.

Oh, and Andrew Wiggins wasn’t deterred by Kansas’ partnership with adidas, so the Jayhawks have that going for them, as well.

You can find Kevin on twitter @KLDoyle11