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The largest financial footwear and apparel agreement in Boston College athletics history gives New Balance the right to provide uniforms, apparel, and footwear for 30 of BC’s 31 varsity sports. The partnership will also include the opportunity for Boston College student-athletes to be part of an annual internship program at New Balance.
“This partnership will be an absolute game-changer for Boston College athletics and our student-athletes,” said William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Pat Kraft. “This is not just a historic deal in terms of the financial value and amount of apparel for our department. The opportunities for our student-athletes to assist in product design and development of the footwear and apparel they will actually wear and compete in will be transformational.”
As New Balance looks to continue its growth with New Balance Basketball, a key element in this partnership focuses on the innovation and investment in the men’s and women’s basketball programs. New Balance will work closely with both programs to aid in design and product enhancements and is dedicated to their success both on and off the court.
“This progressive collaboration joins two world-class Boston-based teams with strong synergies at our core and enables a broad spectrum of initiatives that will drive innovation, performance and creativity,” says Ray Hilvert, Vice President of Global Team Sports at New Balance. “Boston College Athletics is known for its historic commitment to excellence and we look forward to working with Pat Kraft, Father Leahy and the entire Boston College team to build a strong and dynamic relationship that benefits student-athletes and our shared communities.”
The partnership will grant several BC teams access to the new state-of-the-art TRACK@New Balance that is currently under construction. The new sports complex at Boston Landing will feature a 200-meter hydraulically banked track, seating for more than 5,000 spectators, and facilities for training, events, and recovery.
Officially licensed Boston College apparel will be available online this summer on BCEagles.com and New Balance.com in addition to both New Balance Boston retail locations and the Boston College Bookstore.
Boston College cited its longstanding appreciation for New Balance’s history and corporate mission as factors in its decision to seek the agreement. Since 1972, when the company was purchased by Jim Davis, New Balance has grown from six employees manufacturing 30 pairs of shoes per day in a single location to a global brand with more than 7,000 associates worldwide and global annual sales of $3.3 billion in 2020.
Headquartered in Boston, New Balance owns and operates four factories in New England and one in the United Kingdom, and New Balance Foundation– established by Jim and Anne Davis in 1981–has donated more than $110 million in total grants to non-profit organizations to develop high-impact, long-term, sustainable initiatives that enrich the lives of children, their families and their communities.
“This agreement is a great fit for Boston College,” said Kraft. “New Balance is a Brighton neighbor that shares our values. Like BC, it rose from humble beginnings and has grown into an international powerhouse that remains committed to integrity and corporate responsibility. We look forward to this successful partnership and how we can join together to further strengthen our community.”
The Davises, both of whom hold honorary degrees from Boston College, are the parents of Kassia Davis, a 2010 BC graduate who is a member of the University’s Board of Regents.
New Balance Foundation was one of the first philanthropic supporters of City Connects, an evidence-based Boston College program that delivers whole-child student supports and addresses the non-academic barriers to learning in under resourced K-12 schools. New Balance Foundation has donated $6.2mm to City Connects.
About New Balance
New Balance Athletics, headquartered in Boston, Mass. has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. Manufactured in the U.S. for more than 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance MADE U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns and operates four factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 7,000 associates around the globe and in 2020 reported worldwide sales of $3.3 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com.
What They Are Saying About New Balance
Men’s Basketball Coach Earl Grant: “Partnering with New Balance presents a great opportunity for our program and our entire department to think globally with an innovative local company that will be truly invested in our success.
I am excited because we won’t just be part of this deal – we will be partners. Our players will work with New Balance during the process of developing and designing our uniforms, shoes, and apparel. This deal gives us tremendous freedom to customize all of our apparel and experience the next-level quality and innovation that they have to offer.
With the investments they are making in Boston College, our athletics department, and our basketball programs, we are proud to be aligned with New Balance.”
Women’s Basketball Coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee: “We are excited for this new journey with New Balance. Our players will enjoy representing the style and swag of their new basketball line. Their casual wear is spectacular and I know our players will love the high quality and comfort of their basketball and running shoes.
The best part of this new partnership will be our players having a part of the innovation, development, and design of the apparel they will wear for both practice and competition. We can’t wait to show our players and recruits everything New Balance is able to provide us with, especially since New Balance’s headquarters is just over two miles away in Boston.”
Men’s Ice Hockey Coach Jerry York: “This is a unique opportunity for us to align with a Boston brand that understands our teams and our city. Jim Davis has been a longtime fixture in the Boston business community, and we look forward to a lengthy partnership with New Balance and Warrior.”
Women’s Ice Hockey Coach Katie Crowley: “We are excited to be joining the New Balance family. Hockey is important to New Balance and Warrior, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to work with not only an innovative company but also a hometown brand that can help us continue to compete at the highest level on and off the ice.”
Lacrosse Coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein: “I’m extremely excited for our move to New Balance next year. I think they’re going to really help take our program to the next level and have really begun to make a name for themselves in the lacrosse world. New Balance is a company that epitomizes the Boston mentality and we’re excited to join the New Balance family.”
Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field Coach Randy Thomas: “Ever since the late 1970’s – when I worked with Jim Davis and New Balance as their Director of National Promotions – I have felt that New Balance is the World Leader in product and market development. This deal is so huge for New Balance, Boston College, and its student-athletes. To have the opportunity to call the new facility a home for Boston College Track & Field is simply awesome.”
Men’s Cross Country / Track & Field Coach Matt Kerr: “Absolutely fired up about our partnership with New Balance! Not only are they the best in the business, but they make up the very fabric of the neighborhood our athletes train and live in. This is a perfect fit for Boston College Track & Field and we couldn’t be more excited to represent New Balance in daily workouts and racing!”
Baseball Coach Mike Gambino: “We’re excited to be partnered with an elite baseball brand that shares our Boston roots. The opportunity to be affiliated with New Balance, its commitment to our community and goal-oriented development of Boston College student-athletes is aligned with our team’s values and goals as a player-development program.”
Softball Coach Amy Kvilhaug: “We are thrilled to partner with an iconic Boston brand in New Balance. This new partnership will be awesome for our players with the amount of additional gear that they will be provided along with having the opportunity to be part of the innovation, development, and design of the apparel they will wear. This is a great day for Team 38 and we look forward to our partnership with New Balance.”
Women’s Tennis Coach Nigel Bentley: “The partnership with New Balance represents a new era for Boston College Women’s Tennis. Our players will be involved with the innovation, development, and design of the apparel they will wear for both practice and competition. This is very exciting for our team and we are thrilled to be part of this arrangement. We very much look forward to being part of the New Balance family.”
Men’s Tennis Coach Scott Wilkins: “This new partnership between New Balance and Boston College Athletics is very exciting. This will give the student athletes the opportunity to represent both within the community, with the ability to give back and be a part of future innovations within the company.”
Skiing Coach Chuck Carmone: “The BC Ski Team is very excited to be working with an elite and authentic athletic brand such as New Balance. Having a partner locally will be an incredible opportunity for all of athletics. With their proximity to BC’s campus, we will have an active partner where we can use their facilities for dryland training right down the road. Conditioning is such an imperative part of our program; we spend more time off-snow working out than on-snow, so we are thrilled to have this enhanced opportunity for our athletes.”
Field Hockey Coach Kelly Doton: “I’m really excited about the switch to New Balance. The innovation lab at their headquarters will allow a lot of player feedback and give us the opportunity to create custom pieces explicitly for our team. New Balance’s reputation in the running and athletic world is top notch, and I know the quality of the apparel and shoes will be some of the best in college athletics.”
Rowing Coach Grace Hollowell: “From their work with the Head of the Charles Regatta it is clear that New Balance knows rowing and knows Boston. We are excited to partner with a brand that sees and represents our sport and our city!”
Women’s Soccer Coach Jason Lowe: “We’re so excited to be joining the New Balance family. The opportunity to partner with a Boston brand with international experience in soccer is going to be great for us. Having Champions League clubs like FC Porto and athletes like Rose Lavelle shows their commitment to our sport. They have already been great collaborating with our staff and student-athletes to design our new kits for the fall. I can’t wait for our fans, alumnae and recruits to see everything that comes with this partnership both on and off the field.”
Men’s & Women’s Golf Coach Drew Kayser: “The golf program is looking forward to a lasting partnership with an innovative, Boston-based company like New Balance. The ability to participate in the design process is appealing to our student-athletes and we are excited to be a part of growing their golf lines.”
Volleyball Coach Jason Kennedy: “We are excited to get in on the ground level of New Balance’s expansion into volleyball. Our student-athletes will have hands-on involvement to develop and shape the future of our sport.”
Sailing Coach Greg Wilkinson: “We’re so excited for this new partnership between BC and New Balance. The deep connection with Boston and Boston sports will be great for our student athletes. New Balance’s commitment to the community syncs up so well with Men and Women for Others.”
Swimming and Diving Coach Michael Stephens: “We are really excited by the recent announcement of the Boston College Athletics partnership with New Balance. We look forward to sporting our generous apparel package as we continue working towards our goals in the weight room, on the pool deck, and around campus. We can’t wait to proudly represent this innovative, Boston-based company when we travel and compete on the local, national, and international stage. This partnership enables us to continue raising the competitive bar as both a swim and dive program and an athletic department. For Boston!”
