HU signs 5-year deal with Under Armour

HAMPTON, Virginia -- For the last few years, Hampton University has had a relationship with Under Armour it wanted to take further.

But due to the Pirates’ membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, which has a shoe deal with Nike, that couldn’t happen.

When it becomes an official member of the Big South on July 1, HU can make that change. Also on that date, Hampton will become a full-fledged, head-to-toe, partner with Under Armour.

HU announced the five-year arrangement Friday. The Baltimore-based company will provide uniforms and equipment for all 17 of the Pirates’ varsity sports.

“We’ve been working on it for a while,” HU athletic director Eugene Marshall said. “We’ve had a partial relationship with them. Under Armour has been really good to us with lacrosse and women’s soccer (sports the MEAC does not sponsor).

“Once we left the MEAC, we were able to negotiate an excellent multi-year deal that will have us representing Under Armour from head-to-toe for a long time. This allows us to compete at a different level.”

For years, Marshall said, MEAC teams were contracted to wear Russell Athletic apparel and Nike shoes. Recently, the conference began allowing its members to choose its own company for uniforms but remained contracted with Nike for shoes through 2020.

Hampton and Howard chose Under Armour for apparel but, as MEAC members, continued wearing Nike footwear.

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