- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Higher Education
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have signed an $8.43 million, five-year sponsorship agreement with Washington State University Athletics, marking the largest annual sponsorship in the athletic department's history.
The agreement will place a Colville Tribes jersey patch on all WSU athletic uniforms, a first for the Pac-12 and one of the most extensive tribal branding partnerships in college athletics.
The partnership builds on a relationship between the Colville Tribes and WSU that was formalized in 1997 and expands beyond athletics to include youth development and educational initiatives.
"The Colville Tribes has partnered with WSU for decades now on a variety of topics related to education and culture," Colville Business Council Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said in a statement. "We are pleased to continue our partnership with this new and historic involvement in WSU's athletic program."
The agreement includes a $250,000 contribution to the Cougar Athletic Excellence Fund during the first year and funding for youth clinics in tribal communities, regional basketball development programs and an AAU tribal tournament.
Additional elements include Colville Tribes-branded games across multiple sports, Nike N7 basketball games and a video series highlighting connections between WSU student-athletes and tribal youth.
WSU President Betsy Cantwell said the partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to developing future leaders and strengthening communities across Eastern Washington.
The Colville Tribes represent more than 9,000 enrolled citizens from 12 constituent tribes in north-central Washington. The sponsorship was brokered by Playfly Sports, WSU's multimedia rights partner.
