June 19, 2006

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Department of Athletics and Nike, Inc. have entered into a five-year partnership beginning with the 2006-2007 academic year that will provide exclusive footwear, apparel and equipment coverage for all Pirates' sports programs.

The agreement ensures that ECU teams will be outfitted from "head to toe" in Nike uniforms, including practice and travel gear, as well as utilizing Nike equipment for all sports. In addition, officially licensed ECU/Nike-branded products will become available to Pirate fans in retail outlets, which will include game-day souvenir booths at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and at local bookstore locations this fall.

"The agreement with Nike will be a home run for everyone associated with the Pirate family," ECU Director of Athletics Terry Holland said. "Our coaches and team members are pleased with the quality of the Nike product from head to toe and our fans will be extremely pleased with the improved availability of retail product that will allow every member of the Pirate Nation to show their true colors. This partnership is indicative of the respect Pirate athletics is earning in a highly competitive marketplace and I truly appreciate the hard work of Lee Workman, who handles our licensing, to make this initiative a reality for us."

Nike, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

"Nike is truly enthused with the opportunity of partnering with the Pirates," Scott Zanon, Nike's National Manager of College Team Sales, said. "ECU is a quality institution, both academically and athletically, and a school that Nike is proud to be associated with. We are honored to add East Carolina to the family of Nike colleges and look forward to outfitting student-athletes at ECU with the Nike swoosh for many years to come."

ECU Sports Information