Viktoria Muench | Editor-in-Chief
March 1, 2016; 9 a.m.

 Lindenwood has signed a 5-year contract with active wear outfitter Under Armour, officials announed Monday.

The contract will service teams of the entire Lindenwood system, which includes all athletes at the Belleville,
Illinois campus.

As part of President Michael Shonrock’s plan to create a greater unity at Lindenwood, it was important to provide sports teams with uniforms by a single brand.

“We wanted to bring a bigger cool factor and some swag to the school,” said Shonrock. “I think everyone will be excited about Under Armour.”

Thomas Wagganer, Lindenwood’s associate athletics director, said that when the contract with former supplier Adidas ended, the school was also looking at other options. It came down to three choices: Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.

“Ultimately, Under Armour’s proposal was fantastic,” Wagganer said. “When looking at how the company has grown, and the interest they have in kids, especially 18- to 21-year-olds, Under Armour was the clear winner,” he said.

Due to the substantial cost the new contract will bring, teams will receive their new gear in phases. “With roughly 3,000 student athletes in St. Charles and Belleville, changing everything overnight is costly,” Wagganer said.

Under Armour gives Lindenwood the opportunity to provide the teams with new uniforms in stages, so that by the end of year two, every team will receive new uniforms, Wagganer said.

The contract also includes the collaboration with a third party, local vendor and Under Armour provider BSN Sports.

“Although we’re purchasing Under Armour products, they don’t sell directly to us, we partner with them through BSN Sports,” said Wagganer.

“They’re the largest distributor of team sports in the United States, and the largest provider of Under Armour products in the country,” he said.

The partnership with BSN Sports “will give us a quicker turn-around on things” and has the benefit that “if Under Armour doesn’t offer a certain product, BSN will find a company for Lindenwood that will,” Wagganer said.

Greg Cole, assistant manager of Lindenwood’s Spirit and Supply Shoppe, said choosing Under Armour for Lindenwood was the right decision.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “As a retail manager and retail store, Under Armour is a great product. The students and athletes like it, and it’s very durable, so I think it’s a positive and good thing,” he said.

“Most students will prefer better quality as it will last longer, and it’s just cool.”

With the new contract, the school hopes to be even more successful when it comes to student recruitment and retention, Wagganer said.

“It allows us an opportunity to provide our student athletes with the most technologically advanced, some of the best fitting uniforms and gear that’s out there,” he said.

“We just want to make sure that when they leave, they look good representing Lindenwood.”