St. John’s University Signs Endorsement Deal with adidas
Published
In a major shift within the college athletics apparel landscape, St. John’s University has officially ended its partnership with Nike and signed a new deal with adidas.
Historically, St. John’s has been associated with Nike, going all the way back to The Swoosh’s Be True To Your School Dunk collection in the ‘80s. They later signed with Jordan Brand in the 1990s and early 2000s, making them one of the first collegiate programs to wear the Jumpman logo. However, in 2013, the school pivoted to a department-wide deal with Under Armour, which lasted six years. In 2019, under new athletic director Mike Cragg, St. John’s returned to Nike in a renewed partnership that brought The Swoosh back to Queens across all varsity sports. That agreement lasted through the 2024–25 academic year.
Beyond aesthetics, St. John’s has maintained a storied presence in college sports, particularly in men's basketball. The Red Storm is one of only a handful of programs with over 1,900 all-time wins, and they’ve appeared in 30 NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four run in 1985. The program has produced a long line of NBA talent, from legends like Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson to current pros. The recent hiring of Hall of Famer Rick Pitino as head coach has signaled a renewed ambition to return to national prominence.
To celebrate this historic signing, adidas has prepped a collection of clothing on its website, which you can shop below. Expect to see more clothing release in the coming years, and potentially special colorways of adidas Basketball models.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
