Howard and the Jordan Brand will be partners.
Jordan Brand’s commitment to HBCU’s was solidified with the deal.
“We have always been proud of our legacy at Howard University, but we are audacious enough to believe our future could be brighter than our past. Partnering with Jordan Brand is another signal of our ambitions as a university to become an even brighter beacon for Black Excellence. We are thrilled to work on that vision of greatness together,” says Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, Howard University President.
The partnership could prove to provide a strategic windfall if Howard leverages it properly.
According to Howard’s Athletics website, here are the specifics.
- The 20-year partnership between Jordan Brand and Howard University is built on a legacy of excellence and a vision for Black futures.
- The partnership aims to elevate Howard University’s athletic department, unlock new opportunities for recruitment and inspire a new generation to dream of excellence.
- Together, Jordan Brand and Howard University aim to amplify the influence of HBCUs on collegiate sport and continued impact on cultural globally.
- In addition to the partnership with Howard University, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand’s $100M commitment to the Black Community helps advance the work of organizations fighting to create systemic change.
In today’s college athletics landscape, facilities is a major recruiting chip. Howard will need to be creative but there is an avenue to improve facilities. The x-factor will be the Washington D.C. government. They have a history of over-reaching in trying to put their benefit first on the list.
It will be important to the university that their needs stay number one.
From a recruiting perspective, Howard could use the Jordan Brand to make NIL deals more attractive in conjunction with Howard Athletics. Getting businesses and alumni on board, needs to be done with the NCAA guidelines (the ones that are there) but having the Jordan Brand present should help encourage NIL deals.
Howard has a rich history and could be an HBCU powerhouse in an ever changing college athletic landscape. If the university plays this correctly, the Bison could be a major HBCU player across most sports.
