Connect with us

NIL

Under Armour Adds Ex

Under Armour, having strategically pulled back from college sports in recent years, has named former Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith to its board of directors—despite his longstanding ties to one of the brand’s biggest competitors. Smith retired from the Buckeyes in July 2024 after 19 years at the helm, during which he brokered several […]

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Under Armour Adds Ex

Under Armour, having strategically pulled back from college sports in recent years, has named former Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith to its board of directors—despite his longstanding ties to one of the brand’s biggest competitors.

Smith retired from the Buckeyes in July 2024 after 19 years at the helm, during which he brokered several major athletic apparel deals between Ohio State and Nike. Most notably, he ushered in a landmark $252 million agreement in 2016, thought to be the most lucrative collegiate apparel contract ever.

Around that time, Under Armour was also paying top dollar for college partners, eventually amassing a portfolio that included more than a dozen FBS programs. As the company’s overall business struggled, however, it sought early exits from a number of college partnerships—including those with UCLA, Cal, Hawaii and Cincinnati—and further shifted its marketing dollars to individual pro athletes like Steph Curry. Over the last decade, Under Armour has seen its long-term sponsorship commitments dwindle from a peak of $1.36 billion in 2017 to $432 million now, according to the company’s latest SEC filings. 

In a phone interview, Smith said he was approached “a while ago” by Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank, who specifically wanted to have a director with college athletics experience.

“My familiarity with the college space, what is going on now in terms of the changes and transformation, is added value to the board room,” Smith said.

An Under Armour representative didn’t respond to an email asking about the brand’s future college aspirations, but Smith said it will likely depend on how college sports is reshaped in the coming years. 

“I think it is going to take a number of years before this really shakes out … and apparel companies and all partners are going to have to adjust to it,” he said. “I can’t speak to what that will be. I wish I had that crystal ball, but you have to be willing to pivot.”

Smith’s final OSU contract reportedly paid him $2.06 million in annual salary before bonuses. For his work on Under Armour’s board, he is set to receive an initial pro-rated award of company stock valued at $62,500 for the fiscal year 2025, according to SEC filings. Going forward, as a non-management director of the company, he is set to earn an annual retainer of $90,000 in cash and $150,000 in restricted stock units, which will vest in full at the following year’s annual stockholders meeting.

Smith had few interactions with Under Armour while an athletic director. Prior to his tenure in Columbus, he served as AD at Arizona State and Iowa State, which also were both Nike-sponsored schools, and Eastern Michigan, which wore Nike uniforms. While at OSU, Smith recalled having a brief pitch meeting with Under Armour prior to 2016.

“And then I had a coaches meeting, and all the coaches wanted to be with Nike,” Smith said.

Under Armour’s college team portfolio is not entirely gone. The company still works with Notre Dame, Maryland, South Carolina and a handful of other FBS schools. In addition, a number of other programs that don’t have a traditional apparel deal with the company still outfit their athletes in its products. Those smaller schools likely buy Under Armour product through a third party, a process Sportico explained earlier this year in a story about March Madness oddity Bryant University. 

With his appointment to Under Armour’s board, Smith becomes one of the few retired athletic directors to serve as a director of a publicly traded company. He follows in the footsteps of former USC AD Lynn Swann, who currently serves on the boards of Apollo Global Management, Athene Holding and American Homes 4Rent.

After retiring from OSU in 2023, Smith relocated from Ohio to Paradise Valley, Ariz. He currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including that of the Fiesta Sports Foundation, which oversees the Fiesta Bowl. In addition, Smith and his wife, a former coach and athletic administrator, do some corporate leadership consulting work.

Although the OSU athletic director position and a Buckeye athletes leadership institute still bear his name, Smith says he is “totally divested” from any interests at his former employer.

Under Armour stock (NYSE: UAA) is down 13% over the past 12 months, opening trading Wednesday at $5.47. That’s a decline of nearly 90% from its all-time high of $53.78 per share in September of 2015, back when the company was making an aggressive play for college sports. Under Armour is one of many U.S. sportswear companies impacted by potential new tariffs, with more than 40% of its manufacturing facilities located in either China or Vietnam.

For now, Smith says he’s mostly focused on studying up.

“Even though I worked on [apparel] partnerships, I don’t know the granular details,” he said. “I don’t even know where the stuff is manufactured.”

2
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NIL

the prevalence of NIL in Oklahoma prep sports

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Country United States of […]

Published

8 minutes ago

on

May 4, 2025

By







Link

4
Continue Reading

NIL

Mountaineers Split Doubleheader With Texas Tech

Next Game: Texas Tech 5/4/2025 | 1 p.m. May. 04 (Sun) / 1 p.m.  Texas Tech MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team split a doubleheader with Texas Tech on Saturday at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The Red Raiders took game one, 6-4, before the Mountaineers bounced back […]

Published

10 minutes ago

on

May 4, 2025

By


MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team split a doubleheader with Texas Tech on Saturday at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The Red Raiders took game one, 6-4, before the Mountaineers bounced back with a 3-2 victory in game two. 

The Mountaineers remain in first place at 17-4 in the Big 12 and 38-7 overall while Texas Tech falls to 16-27 overall and 11-12 in conference play. WVU is currently three games up in the standings on Kansas and Arizona State with seven games to play.

In game one, junior Skylar King and senior Grant Hussey each hit a home run while junior Sam White had two hits.

Texas Tech jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first before Hussey got a run back with a home run in the third, his first of three hits in the game. 

The Red Raiders scored a run in the sixth before scoring three in the seventh to take a 6-1 lead. In the home half, WVU got back into the game as junior Ben Lumsden drove in a run with a fielder’s choice before King belted a two-run home run. 

The Mountaineers loaded the bases in the ninth but could not complete the rally.

In game two, White added two more hits and drove in two runs. Senior Jace Rinehart added an RBI as well.

On the mound, senior Reese Bassinger was forced into the game in the third inning due to injury and never came out of the game, throwing the final 7.0 innings of the game, allowing just two runs and striking out four while walking none. He improved to 6-0 on the season. 

White hit RBI doubles in both the first and third innings to put WVU in the lead before coming around to score on a single from Rinehart as WVU led 3-1 after three innings.

Texas Tech got within one with a run in the fourth but that was the last of the scoring on the day as WVU held on for the victory.

The two teams will meet on Sunday for the rubber game at 1 p.m.

 

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 





Link

4
Continue Reading

NIL

College Basketball Tournament Rankings: Big 12 Edition (2025)

Share Tweet Share Share Email So far, 11 of the 16 Big 12 men’s basketball teams have lined up non-conference tournament in November later this year. Also called multi-team events, these tournaments give teams the chance to get multiple games at the same site without extra travel.   Blogging the Bracket is publishing a running […]

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 4, 2025

By


So far, 11 of the 16 Big 12 men’s basketball teams have lined up non-conference tournament in November later this year.

Also called multi-team events, these tournaments give teams the chance to get multiple games at the same site without extra travel.

 

Blogging the Bracket is publishing a running list of the MTEs (Multi-Team Events) that have been scheduled based on reporting, as most Division I schedules aren’t made yet. In fact, most conference schedules won’t be announced until at least August.

But, for now, we rank each of the MTE’s that Big 12 teams are reportedly involved in.

1. Players Era Festival

Set for Nov. 24-30 in Las Vegas, it’s the runaway winner here. Baylor, Houston, Iowa State and Kansas have all been invited to the tournament that features an NIL component. Houston played in the tournament last year and lost two games.

That’s because the field is brutal — Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. John’s, Saint Joseph’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.

If last year’s format is used, each Big 12 team is going to get three significant tests while in Sin City over the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. Rady Children’s Invitational

Set for Nov. 27-28 in San Diego, this one features the defending national champions, the Florida Gators, along with a pair of tough programs in Providence and Wisconsin. The fourth team is TCU, which is remaking its roster after a bumpy offseason in the transfer portal. This should be a great event for late-night hoops watchers.

 

3. Shriners Hospitals Charleston Classic

The event will be played before Thanksgiving in Charleston, S.C. It features three NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago in Clemson, Georgia and Xavier, along with one team that should have been an NCAA Tournament team in West Virginia. Each team is guaranteed two games. Like the Rady Children’s Invitation, everyone is going to get tested.

4. Hall of Fame Classic

Set for Nov. 20-21 in Kansas City, this is one of the most balanced four-team MTE’s you are likely to find. Kansas State could face Mississippi State, Nebraska or New Mexico as each team is guaranteed two games. None of these teams jump off the page, but it should be highly competitive.

5. Acrisure Series

Played in Palm Desert, Calif., from Nov. 25-28, Colorado and Utah are the Big 12 teams committed to the event, which features a huge field, like the Players Era.

It’s not known who Colorado or Utah will play, but the rest of the field includes Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon, Iowa, Loyola Chicago, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Nevada, Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, San Diego, San José State, Santa Clara, Stanford, Tulsa and Washington.

 

It’s an intriguing mix of power programs and dangerous mid-majors. It’s hard to determine the competitiveness until brackets are released.

6. Maui Invitational

Set for Nov. 24-26 in Lahaina, Hawai‘i, this used to be the gold standard for pre-Thanksgiving Tournament. This year the field feels lacking. Arizona State is the Big 12 entrant, along with Boise State, NC State, Seton Hall, Texas, USC, Washington State and Division II host Chaminade.

7. ESPN Events Invitational

Set for Nov. 27-28 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., this looks like the weakest field among the MTE’s that are reportedly set up. To me, BYU and Dayton are the best teams here and should meet in a game the second day, assuming both win their first games. The rest of the field is Georgetown and Miami (FL).

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.





 Link

3
Continue Reading

NIL

SEC Athletic Director Reacts to Texas Longhorns' Astronomical NIL Rumor

Can a national championship be bought in college football? That is a question on many people’s minds as conflicting reports swirl about how much the Texas Longhorns‘ roster will cost them heading into the 2025 season. The original report from the Houston Chronicle‘s Kirk Bohls stated that the Longhorns are spending anywhere from $35-$40 million […]

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 4, 2025

By

SEC Athletic Director Reacts to Texas Longhorns' Astronomical NIL Rumor

Can a national championship be bought in college football? That is a question on many people’s minds as conflicting reports swirl about how much the Texas Longhorns‘ roster will cost them heading into the 2025 season.

The original report from the Houston Chronicle‘s Kirk Bohls stated that the Longhorns are spending anywhere from $35-$40 million on their roster this coming season. However, a following report from Horns247’s Chip Brown claimed Texas is indeed not spending that much money on its roster.

Yet, even with the uncertainty as to just how much Texas is paying. The news was enough to get a reaction from the Tennessee Volunteers’ athletic director, Danny White.

“I think it’s hard to know what’s true,” White said Thursday night. “There’s so many numbers being thrown out. We are as competitive as anyone. I think in the NIL space, we came out the gate as a leader and we’re going to continue to have our foot on the gas, …” White said.

Danny White

Tennessee athletic director Danny White before a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game between the Lady Vols and Texas at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, March 29, 2025. / Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

He went on to point out that the Volunteers have seen their annual revenue double over the past year from $140 million to $280 million, which he says will allow them to continue spending at the level required to compete in the SEC.

Yet, the question becomes, how does that number match up to the Longhorns? Texas did just pull in $331.9 million in athletics revenue in 2024 – best in the country – which followed up 2023, where they finished second with $239.2 million.

Combine that with a wealthy donor base and a successful NIL collective, it is easy to see why so many were quick to believe the $35-$40 million report. However, that number is seemingly put into more question by the fact that Ohio State’s roster reportedly cost them $20 million last season.

3
Continue Reading

NIL

Jedd Fisch on spring games: Don’t know why teams ‘waste’ opportunity

The Washington Huskies have wrapped up their second spring under head coach Jedd Fisch. That included hosting a spring game, despite several other programs around the country and in the Big Ten backing away from them. After the spring game, Fish was incredibly happy with how things went. He’d reflect on the spring game and […]

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 4, 2025

By


The Washington Huskies have wrapped up their second spring under head coach Jedd Fisch. That included hosting a spring game, despite several other programs around the country and in the Big Ten backing away from them.

After the spring game, Fish was incredibly happy with how things went. He’d reflect on the spring game and explain that Washington wanted to make their game entertaining and balance that with improving as a team.

“I thought it was great,” Jedd Fisch said. “I loved having the music playing throughout. I thought we had a really good turnout of people. It gets bigger. It gets more fun. I think we continue to add new parts to it, to incorporate the gymnastics teams, to incorporate the two soccer teams, to have Mike [Penix Jr.] fly in, to have Donald [Butler] fly in, to be able to let the non-kickers kick, and we were trying to get Big Logan [Sagapolu] and Geirean [Hatchett] to field some punts, but there were no punts in the fourth quarter.”

Among the Big Ten schools to cancel their spring games were Nebraska and USC. Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule attributed potential tampering with the Transfer Portal set to open as a major factor. Several other coaches pointed out similar circumstances. Then, coaches like Steve Sarkisian at Texas pointed out the length of their postseason runs. Despite all of those arguments, Jedd Fisch wondered why teams wouldn’t embrace an opportunity to improve.

“We want to keep growing it. We want to make it a celebration of spring football. We also want to be able to get better while we’re doing it. So, to me, you go and play a two-hour game. I don’t know the total amount of snaps but there were probably 85-90 snaps. There were interceptions, there were touchdowns, there were tackles, there were fumbles, there were a lot of things you could coach off of,” Fisch said. “And I don’t know why anyone would want to waste their 15th practice and not be able to coach off of it.”

The reality is that practice time is severely limited in college football. Spring only allows for 15 practices in total. So, time is limited, and different coaches are going to want to use that time differently. As of now, it would appear that Jedd Fisch believes hosting that scrimmage is the best way to use that time. So, it’s not leaving Washington soon.



Link

5
Continue Reading

NIL

NIL frustrations mount as Rick Barnes discusses recruiting setbacks for Tennessee

There have been several big-name transfers and recruits Tennessee basketball has been in on this offseason. The Vols landing Nate Ament continues to be news that’s celebrated across the state. However, there have also been players UT has missed out on. The list includes Rodney Rice, who seemed like he’d be a lock to play […]

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 4, 2025

By


There have been several big-name transfers and recruits Tennessee basketball has been in on this offseason. The Vols landing Nate Ament continues to be news that’s celebrated across the state. However, there have also been players UT has missed out on.

The list includes Rodney Rice, who seemed like he’d be a lock to play for Tennessee after his buddy Ja’Kobi Gillespie made that call. Rice picked USC, but he wasn’t the only one who spurned the Vols in order to play for another team.

While Barnes didn’t speak about Rice in particular, he did admit this week that there have been several players who have wanted to play for him, but one main thing prevented that from happening: NIL deals offering more money:

Rick Barnes opened up on NIL forcing him to miss out on top targets

“We have a limit we’re going to,” Barnes said. “It has happened this year. We’ve been involved with guys that truly wanted to come to the University of Tennessee, but they were looking for more money than we were able to provide because of us trying to build our roster the best we could.”

This makes sense. Sometimes, it doesn’t come down to Barnes and his staff not doing a good enough job recruiting a target and selling him on the kind of impact he can make with the program. Instead, it comes down to a different team putting a bigger bag in front of him. We get it, so does Barnes.

According to multiple reports, Rice ended up signing a $3 million NIL package to sign with the USC Trojans. This was a number that Barnes and Tennessee were never going to come close to. Can you blame Rice for taking that kind of dough? Absolutely not.

Rice and others were offered more money to not suit up in Knoxville and at the end of the day, no one can be upset with them over that. This is the new world we live in with college athletics. Barnes knows this is the direction things are going, but at the same time, he’s still done a strong job landing playmakers this offseason and it’s looking to be another strong campaign for the Vols in 2025-26 after an Elite Eight run this past March Madness.





Link

3
Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending