Starting July 1, Nike will be the official athletic wear provider for all Florida A&M University sports apparel, equipment and footwear, lengthening a relationship that started more than two decades ago.
“FAMU is an elite institution with rich traditions, and our student-athletes deserve an experience that is second to none,” said Kortne Gosha, the Vice President and Director of Athletics. “As we transition into a new athletic conference and the opportunity to engage apparel partners, the 23-year relationship with Nike and their commitment to culture, diversity, inclusion, and innovation has never been clearer. This partnership has allowed us to reimagine and challenge the norms of our industry and be the model for leveling the playing field with the most significant investment in HBCUs by any footwear and apparel company.”
In addition to the university’s athletic department and 14 sports programs, the agreement will also supply the Marching 100 band with branded uniforms, apparel and other equipment. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be provided with LeBron James signature uniforms and footwear made just for FAMU, which is best known for generating Black sports legends such as Althea Gibson and Jake Gaither.
Besides offering athletic wear, the partnership signifies the opportunity for Nike and FAMU to support future athletes through a variety of sports development programs, internships and networking opportunities. As part of Nike’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion, the brand boosted the number of HBCU hires from 8% in 2019 to 18% in 2020 via partnerships with the National Black MBA Association and Reaching Out MBA.
