Athletics Ends Adidas Partnership, Moves to Nike

The University of South Dakota athletic department announced a ten-year apparel agreement with Nike and BSN Sports that will make Nike the official provider of uniforms, footwear and equipment for all 18 Coyote athletic programs beginning in July 2026.

The deal marks the end of USD’s longstanding relationship with Adidas, which had outfitted the Coyotes for more than a decade. According to the university’s announcement, the partnership with Nike is intended to “further strengthen the USD brand” and provide student-athletes with “the best apparel, footwear, uniforms and other accessories for years to come.”

Athletic director Jon Schemmel said in a release that the collaboration reflects a “shared vision” between USD and Nike. “I’m most excited for what this means for our student-athletes and Coyote Nation,” said Schemmel.

But while the enthusiasm of the announcement was notable to many, others have been left questioning the reason for the change. USD athletic officials did not provide a reason for the change, and it is unknown whether the transition was made by the university or Adidas. The Volante reached out to university and athletic department officials for additional comment on the matter, but they declined to comment.

The change comes just a year after USD swapped out its secondary logo in August 2024, a move presented at the time as part of an effort to further update the visual identity of the university. The Nike agreement appears to be another step in that direction, although the lack of clarity surrounding the decision has been met with some suspicion.

One point of discussion over the past year, since USD unveiled its updated secondary logo, has been the limited availability of apparel matching what Coyote teams wear. 

It remains to be seen whether the partnership with Nike and BSN Sports will make it easier for fans and students to purchase similar gear.

For now, the Coyotes will continue competing in Adidas gear through the 2025–26 season before fully transitioning to Nike the following July. Until then, the only certainty seems to be that USD’s look and perhaps its brand identity, is changing once again. The Volante will provide updates if additional information becomes available regarding the decision to change apparel partners.