The Partnership

On July 6, 2015, Michigan Athletics announced its partnership with NIKE, beginning August 1, 2016, to become the Wolverines' official athletic footwear, apparel and equipment provider until 2027, with an option to extend to 2031. The agreement includes:

NIKE supplying all 31 of U-M's athletics programs with uniforms, footwear, apparel and equipment.
U-M and NIKE collaborating throughout the agreement on innovation initiatives in sports technology, design and best practices including at least two community events per year that support and celebrate education in health and wellness initiatives.
Three student summer internships at NIKE headquarters.
Use of the Jordan Brand "Jumpman" apparel for football, and men's and women's basketball.

The process began almost immediately with NIKE’s Graphic Identity Group (GIG) traveling to Ann Arbor last summer to being their “GIG” process. A comprehensive five-step process, the purpose is to ensure that Michigan is represented in a manner consistent with our history, traditions and values.

It began with a discovery phase involving various U-M audiences -- our student-athletes, coaches, staff, members of the University community -- to hear what Michigan means to them. What they found was not surprising. Feedback was consistently powerful with words like “family,” “tradition,” “history,” “classic,” “community," "the combination of academics and athletics" repeatedly surfacing.

A year of studying, researching, collaborating and developing brought us to 2016-17 with bold yet classic colors, uniforms and styles, with cutting-edge technology.