Coaches and athletes happy with Nike deal

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat UA men's head basketball coach Lute Olson walks into McKale Center last year. The UA finalized an approximately $7 million, 5-year deal with Nike yesterday. Nike will contribute athletic equipment free of charge.

"Our student-athletes are very excited about this opportunity," UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood said yesterday. "I think this is going to be a tremendous relationship that will allow us to do things we haven't been able to do before."

Due to existing contracts, the UA softball, swimming and diving teams are not included in the Nike contract.

While the monetary contribution will certainly help the UA athletic budget, the biggest benefit might be in the supplied athletic equipment. Prior to the deal, each UA sports program needed to purchase its own gear with a limited budget. The UA track program, for instance, is responsible for purchasing around 400-500 pairs of athletic shoes each year.

"This deal will really help us in terms of budget problems," UA track and field head coach Dave Murray said. "In the past, we had Reebok equipment because we could essentially get shoes for half-off. We have 75 athletes and our distance runners each go through about four pairs of training shoes. Now, they will supply us the shoes at no cost."

But the price of the equipment is not the only advantage. Nike is consistently looked at as the top athletic equipment manufacturer by many coaches and athletes.

"It really is about the best you can get," Murray said. "I would say that nine out of every 10 runners would prefer Nike shoes."

Senior cross country runner Amy Skieresz also supports Nike's claim as the top athletic distributor.

"I really think this is a good move for our team," said Skieresz, the 1996 NCAA cross country individual champion. "When I was in high school, I always bought Nike shoes. If I have a choice, I would usually go with Nikes over another shoe."

UA assistant basketball coach Jim Rosborough also thinks Nike offers the best quality. His teams have been successfully using Nike equipment for 24 years.

"We had Nike back when I came on as an assistant with Coach (Lute) Olson at Iowa back in 1974," Rosborough said. "It has always been a marvelous product. Their shoes are good for the kids in terms of always being on the cutting edge of technology."

Yet even with the numerous benefits that the athletic department will reap from signing such a deal, the question of integrity comes in with regards to Nike's reported oversees practice. The university has had talks with Nike CEO Philip Knight and the coaches have been encouraged by the results. In fact, there is an agreement between Arizona and Nike that states if Nike does not deal with this issue in a way satisfactory to an independent monitor, the contract can be terminated.

"I think that they have become aware of the problem and are taking steps to improve their overseas situation," Rosborough said. "Hopefully this will not be a long term concern."

Arlie Rahn can be reached via e-mail at Arlie.Rahn@wildcat.arizona.edu.