Press release from Pitt:
Pitt Extends Partnership with NIKE Through 2026
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Athletics has extended its long-standing relationship with NIKE to continue to provide NIKE Athletics gear for each of the Panthers’ 19 varsity programs through 2026.
“When you have the opportunity to extend a productive and mutually beneficial partnership, you Just Do It!,” said Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. “Pitt and NIKE have been terrific partners for nearly 15 years, and extending our agreement through 2026 supports our department, our coaches, student-athletes, and staff. We have seen success on the field and in apparel sales since our rebrand with NIKE in 2019. I am eager to see how our Pitt-NIKE relationship continues to progress over the coming years.”
Pitt’s partnership with NIKE has enabled its student-athletes to align with the top sports apparel company in the world. NIKE’s top-of-the-line footwear and apparel is not only optimized for peak performance, but also features superb look and comfort which allow Pitt student-athletes the opportunity to maximize their performance both in-game and in practice.
“During my time at the University of Pittsburgh, NIKE has been an incredible partner for both Pitt football and our entire athletics department,” said head coach Pat Narduzzi. “The continuation of that partnership is a huge victory for everyone involved. NIKE is the world’s premier sports brand for a reason. We look forward to wearing the Pitt Script and NIKE swoosh with great pride for seasons to come.”
“NIKE has been a terrific partner for Pitt and our program,” said men’s basketball head coach Jeff Capel. “It is by far the top brand in the basketball world, and we are excited to continue to represent the company. Whether it is the uniforms, competition apparel, travel gear, or leisure wear, we always look elite in NIKE.”
“I’m very excited about Pitt’s continued partnership with NIKE,” said women’s basketball head coach Tory Verdi. “There’s only one brand and it’s NIKE! Their clothes, shoes and apparel are a difference maker.”
“We could not be more excited for the Pitt-NIKE partnership to continue,” said volleyball coach Dan Fisher. “Our athletes want high-performing gear that fits, feels, and looks good. NIKE accomplishes all those things as we continue to work towards our championship goals.”
Pitt’s success across the athletic department is illustrated in the 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings. The Panthers posted their top finish since the 1994-95 campaign, with a department record 469.00 points, as football, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s swimming & diving, men’s soccer, volleyball, women’s indoor track & field, women’s soccer, and wrestling earned Directors’ Cup points. Volleyball and men’s soccer made NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances a year ago, while men’s basketball and women’s soccer each won a pair of NCAA Tournament games. Nino Bonaccorsi became Pitt’s 17th National Champion in wrestling in 2023, capping off an undefeated season with a dramatic come-from-behind 5-3 decision in the 197-pound final.
Football won the final five games of the 2022 season, including a dramatic Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl win over No. 18 UCLA, 37-35, to finish with a 9-4 record and No. 22 final ranking in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll. After finishing No. 13 in 2021, Pitt’s football program secured a second consecutive Top-25 finish in the final AP Poll for the first time in 40 years (1982-83). With 11 wins in 2021 and nine more in 2022, Pitt achieved 20 wins in football over a two-year span for the first time since 1981-82.
Men’s cross country had two runners qualify for NCAA Championship for the first time in program history as juniors Jack Miller and Luke Henseler became the first Pitt male runners to qualify for the NCCA Championships overall since 1994, while men’s swimming & diving had 12 NCAA Championship qualifiers, the most for the program in over 20 years. Pitt’s 400-yard medley relay team (Krzysztof Radziszewski, Cooper Van der Laan, Marcin Goraj, and Dominic Toledo) finished 16th overall and broke their own school record with a time of 3:05.72, earning an Honorable Mention All-American status. Van der Laan also secured individual Honorable Mention All-American honors at the NCAA Championships in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ilse Steigenga added an All-America performance at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship for the Panthers.
Pitt had 16 All-America selections in 2023, with Calijah Kancey becoming Pitt’s 15th Unanimous All-American in football, earning first-team honors from all five official selectors. Kancey was Pitt’s first Unanimous All-American since Aaron Donald in 2013 and was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Running back Israel Abanikanda also grabbed First Team All-America accolades, while Erick Hallett II was a second team selection. Volleyball had four All-America picks with Courtney Buzzerio and Serena Gray becoming the first tandem of First Team All-Americans in program history. Valeria Vazquez Gomez (Second Team) and Rachel Fairbanks (Third Team) also earned All-America honors, with Fairbanks becoming the first underclassmen in program history to achieve All-America status.
Officially licensed Pitt NIKE apparel is available at shoppittpanthers.com.
Pitt Extends Partnership with NIKE Through 2026
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Athletics has extended its long-standing relationship with NIKE to continue to provide NIKE Athletics gear for each of the Panthers’ 19 varsity programs through 2026.
“When you have the opportunity to extend a productive and mutually beneficial partnership, you Just Do It!,” said Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. “Pitt and NIKE have been terrific partners for nearly 15 years, and extending our agreement through 2026 supports our department, our coaches, student-athletes, and staff. We have seen success on the field and in apparel sales since our rebrand with NIKE in 2019. I am eager to see how our Pitt-NIKE relationship continues to progress over the coming years.”
Pitt’s partnership with NIKE has enabled its student-athletes to align with the top sports apparel company in the world. NIKE’s top-of-the-line footwear and apparel is not only optimized for peak performance, but also features superb look and comfort which allow Pitt student-athletes the opportunity to maximize their performance both in-game and in practice.
“During my time at the University of Pittsburgh, NIKE has been an incredible partner for both Pitt football and our entire athletics department,” said head coach Pat Narduzzi. “The continuation of that partnership is a huge victory for everyone involved. NIKE is the world’s premier sports brand for a reason. We look forward to wearing the Pitt Script and NIKE swoosh with great pride for seasons to come.”
“NIKE has been a terrific partner for Pitt and our program,” said men’s basketball head coach Jeff Capel. “It is by far the top brand in the basketball world, and we are excited to continue to represent the company. Whether it is the uniforms, competition apparel, travel gear, or leisure wear, we always look elite in NIKE.”
“I’m very excited about Pitt’s continued partnership with NIKE,” said women’s basketball head coach Tory Verdi. “There’s only one brand and it’s NIKE! Their clothes, shoes and apparel are a difference maker.”
“We could not be more excited for the Pitt-NIKE partnership to continue,” said volleyball coach Dan Fisher. “Our athletes want high-performing gear that fits, feels, and looks good. NIKE accomplishes all those things as we continue to work towards our championship goals.”
Pitt’s success across the athletic department is illustrated in the 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings. The Panthers posted their top finish since the 1994-95 campaign, with a department record 469.00 points, as football, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s swimming & diving, men’s soccer, volleyball, women’s indoor track & field, women’s soccer, and wrestling earned Directors’ Cup points. Volleyball and men’s soccer made NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances a year ago, while men’s basketball and women’s soccer each won a pair of NCAA Tournament games. Nino Bonaccorsi became Pitt’s 17th National Champion in wrestling in 2023, capping off an undefeated season with a dramatic come-from-behind 5-3 decision in the 197-pound final.
Football won the final five games of the 2022 season, including a dramatic Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl win over No. 18 UCLA, 37-35, to finish with a 9-4 record and No. 22 final ranking in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll. After finishing No. 13 in 2021, Pitt’s football program secured a second consecutive Top-25 finish in the final AP Poll for the first time in 40 years (1982-83). With 11 wins in 2021 and nine more in 2022, Pitt achieved 20 wins in football over a two-year span for the first time since 1981-82.
Men’s cross country had two runners qualify for NCAA Championship for the first time in program history as juniors Jack Miller and Luke Henseler became the first Pitt male runners to qualify for the NCCA Championships overall since 1994, while men’s swimming & diving had 12 NCAA Championship qualifiers, the most for the program in over 20 years. Pitt’s 400-yard medley relay team (Krzysztof Radziszewski, Cooper Van der Laan, Marcin Goraj, and Dominic Toledo) finished 16th overall and broke their own school record with a time of 3:05.72, earning an Honorable Mention All-American status. Van der Laan also secured individual Honorable Mention All-American honors at the NCAA Championships in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ilse Steigenga added an All-America performance at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship for the Panthers.
Pitt had 16 All-America selections in 2023, with Calijah Kancey becoming Pitt’s 15th Unanimous All-American in football, earning first-team honors from all five official selectors. Kancey was Pitt’s first Unanimous All-American since Aaron Donald in 2013 and was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Running back Israel Abanikanda also grabbed First Team All-America accolades, while Erick Hallett II was a second team selection. Volleyball had four All-America picks with Courtney Buzzerio and Serena Gray becoming the first tandem of First Team All-Americans in program history. Valeria Vazquez Gomez (Second Team) and Rachel Fairbanks (Third Team) also earned All-America honors, with Fairbanks becoming the first underclassmen in program history to achieve All-America status.
Officially licensed Pitt NIKE apparel is available at shoppittpanthers.com.
