Ferris State Athletics Becomes Michigan's First NCAA School To Sign With Under Armour

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University Athletics has joined forces with one of the global leaders in performance footwear and apparel, becoming the first NCAA school in the state of Michigan to sign an exclusive agreement with Under Armour.

The Bulldogs recently inked a multi-year deal with the Baltimore-based leader in performance apparel, footwear and accessories, making Under Armour the official supplier and outfitter of Bulldog Athletics beginning in the fall of 2014.

The agreement gives UA the right to provide game and training gear to the Bulldogs' 17 varsity teams while also outfitting coaches and members of the athletic department staff. The comprehensive agreement also includes various marketing and promotional opportunities along with access to partner-only designs.

"We are thrilled to align Ferris State University and our athletics department with one of the top brands and leaders in the industry," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "Our goal is to provide high-quality resources and products for our athletic programs in order to compete at the highest level, and we believe this partnership certainly will benefit our student-athletes.

"In just a short amount of time, the impact has been very positive for our student-athletes, coaches and staff and we feel it will be very popular with our students, alumni, faculty and overall fan base at retail as well," added Weisenburger.

The exclusive contract will be the school's first such agreement and the Bulldogs will become the first NCAA member institution in Michigan to exclusively wear the Under Armour brand. Ferris State will join an impressive list of Under Armour schools, which includes such NCAA Division I institutions as Notre Dame, Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and more. NFL quarterbacks Cam Newton and Tom Brady, among others, also endorse Under Armour products.

"We’re thrilled to have Ferris State University join our growing list of NCAA partners,” said Tony Donofrio, Midwest Senior Regional Under Armour Manager. “Bringing two champions together always raises the level of competition. We look forward to empowering the student-athletes, the students and the community of Ferris State University with best-in-class technology as we strive to make ALL athletes better.”

The transition to Under Armour will officially begin this fall with all programs at Ferris State head-to-toe by the end of the second year of the agreement.  The Bulldog softball team was the first team to be outfitted in new uniforms, cleats and equipment from the brand this past spring.  

"The quality of the Under Armour brand and products, in combination with the level of service we will receive from Team Sports, Inc., made them the perfect choice for this partnership," said FSU Associate Athletics Director Jon Coles. "This type of partnership is forging new ground for Ferris State Athletics and will be an integral part of strengthening our Bulldog brand.”

ABOUT UNDER ARMOUR, INC.

Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and accessories, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at levels. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the company's website at ua.com.