Clarification appended.
The Ohio Athletic Department is expected to announce Adidas as the new athletic apparel supplier in the coming days. The new deal is for eight years, with a possible two-year extension, according to an email sent to student athletes Nov. 18.
Russell Athletic, the current sponsor, has equipped Ohio since 2007, with as Adidas the previous sponsor. Ohio University currently receives $397,500 per year from Russell in athletic gear, according to a previous Post report. The new deal is expected to begin in July.
An announcement about the Adidas deal was supposed to be in early December, according to the email sent from Director of Athletics Jim Schaus to student athletes.
“We plan a full press conference in early December that will include coaches and student-athletes,” Schaus said in the email. “Please feel free to share the news with your teammates.”
Previously, Ohio has been the only program in the Mid-American Conference to be paid to wear athletic uniforms, while other schools have paid for supplied clothing and equipment.
“The contract … is an outstanding one for the department,” Schaus wrote. “We will be able to maintain the significant quantity of complementary products we have become accustomed to, while staying committed to quality and variety in offering to players, coaches and staff.”
The Post will have more coverage when the deal is announced.
Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify OU's deal with Russell Athletic.
