{"id":10196,"date":"2025-07-14T23:01:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T23:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/10196\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T23:01:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T23:01:03","slug":"adidas-st-johns-partner-thanks-to-mens-college-basketballs-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/10196\/","title":{"rendered":"adidas, St. John’s partner thanks to men’s college basketball’s revival"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. John\u2019s meteoric return to national prominence in college basketball<\/a> under coach Rick Pitino has made it a very desirable investment. It\u2019s the reason the sneaker and apparel giant adidas sought to make the Red Storm its first college partner that doesn\u2019t have a Bowl Championship Subdivision football program.<\/p>\n

They unveiled their new partnership on Monday through a video posted on social media platforms that featured Pitino, as well as several Storm players, in adidas gear sitting on a bench and each opening a newspaper with the front page headline \u201cADIDAS EYES RED STORM.\u201d<\/p>\n

Born in Queens, backed by the three stripes.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the family. adidas is proud to become the official partner of @StJohnsRedStorm<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/RTeMWYC1m7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) July 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

As part of the partnership, St. John\u2019s will receive a major investment in their athletics department and student-athletes will have an avenue to a company program that will give them opportunities to earn NIL money doing endorsements. Two players \u2014\u00a0Ian Jackson<\/a> and Joson Sanon<\/a> \u2014\u00a0already are part of the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a period of time where it’s all about revenue generation for college athletics and all about NIL and adidas gets it,\u201d St. John\u2019s AD Ed Kull told Newsday. \u201c[It]\u00a0has a whole program that’s focused around NIL and giving dollars for endorsement deals to student-athletes. And they understand for the school the challenges of revenue sharing and generating money and they really stepped up. And . . . want to be all in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nike, the previous outfitter for St. John\u2019s, has reduced its portfolio for outfitting college programs and, though it had the opportunity to counter adidas\u2019 offer to St. John\u2019s, chose not to, Kull said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we’ve changed brands over the years \u2014\u00a0from Jordan Brand to Nike Elite to Under Armour to Nike now this \u2014\u00a0but it\u2019s truly in our best interest we have a partner that is investing in us and building with us. Nike was not doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The appeal of St. John\u2019s playing in the New York market \u00a0made the partnership even more appealing to the shoe giant. The Red Storm will play at least a dozen games next season at Madison Square Garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPartnering with a renowned institution in St. John’s University represents an exciting moment for adidas,” adidas Vice President of Sports Marketing Chris McGuire said in a school-issued statement. “As a powerhouse with deep roots and big ambition, they match our drive to push limits and shape the future of sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

The flagship men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball programs will have game-day uniforms, footwear, apparel and equipment for training and competition designed by adidas.<\/p>\n

St. John\u2019s fans can buy Red Storm merchandise from adidas online already and the men\u2019s basketball program will be part of an event on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the recently relaunched adidas Brand store at 610 Broadway in Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis move to adidas was the worst-kept secret, but the holdup in the launch was making sure that we launched and you could buy [gear]\u00a0right away,\u201d Kull said.<\/p>\n

Kull also said that fans who were frustrated about the lack of availability of the various official Nike uniforms will be offered a wider variety, including alternate uniforms, though he couldn\u2019t give details yet on the Felipe Lopez-era throwbacks.<\/p>\n

Kull said fans will eventually see a one-stop shop where they will be able to purchase one of the uniforms that are personalized with their favorite players\u2019 names and numbers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Roger<\/p>\n

\n\tRoger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.\n<\/p>\n