Mars Hill Athletics partners with adidas

MARS HILL, N.C. – Mars Hill University Athletics and adidas America, Inc., announced a team agreement which makes adidas the outfitter of footwear, apparel, uniforms, equipment and accessories. The initial contract is a four-year agreement. First Team Sports Center located in Greenville, S.C., will serve as the sole provider of athletic goods as specified in the contract.

Mars Hill Athletics becomes a preferred customer of adidas which impacts equipment and supplies availability, reduced cost and promotional aspects of the contract. All of Mars Hill's 22 athletic teams are now housed under the adidas contract.

What they are saying:

David Riggins, Mars Hill Athletic Director

"The partnership between adidas and Mars Hill is a win-win situation for both entities. adidas gets rights to outfit 22 intercollegiate teams and the personnel who are affiliated with those teams. Our student-athletes see the new content as a big plus because wearing adidas gear becomes a unifying factor for over 500 student-athletes. The fact that First Team Sports in Greenville, S.C. is our supplier for all adidas goods is value added since First Team and Mars Hill have had a relationship for years.

Mike Miros, Owner of First Team Sports

1. You have seen numerous institutions create partnerships with major suppliers. Why is adidas and Mars Hill a good partnership?

"I think the reason that adidas and Mars Hill make such a great partnership is because adidas makes such a great product and that's what today's athlete is looking for to compete at the highest level. Another reason is the identity to the school. I think that it will help with recruiting and marketing. It will give Mars Hill an identity with adidas so when you see Mars Hill you will see adidas. It also helps adidas in Western North Carolina. Hopefully it will help to create some exposure and sales at the high school level."

1. What role does First Team Sports play in this relationship with adidas and MHU?

"First Team Sports is the go-between for coaches and adidas. First Team will facilitate all the orders and will keep the coaches and staff up to date on new and current products. First Team hopes to take the pressure off of ordering."

Dr. Dan Lunsford, Mars Hill University President

1. Why is it important for MHU to align itself with a major goods supplier such as adidas?

"Partnering with adidas is a win-win for both parties because we know that in the general public that name brand recognition is often paramount to indicating a successful enterprise. To have a connection to a name brand with such an outstanding product such as adidas is a great thing for Mars Hill. adidas is known for its products and services to collegiate athletics. It is a great thing for the provider to be associated with an institution that has a long-standing history of quality programs. We have been looking for this for a long time and I applaud our athletic director David Riggins and the leadership in the athletic department for putting all this together."

2. The partnership with adidas is obviously a plus for athletics. How does it affect the university as a whole?

"It is much the same because when the general public see Mars Hill and the Mars Hill logo and they see the adidas logo they think this is what "Big Time Programs" do and to see the branding in athletics reflects on the institution. It also helps with student recruitment to know that this institution is an adidas institution."