Merrimack College Athletics announced it has agreed to a six-year partnership with global sportswear brand New Balance that will make the Boston-based company the official footwear and apparel provider for the Warriors.
Beginning with the fall 2025 season, student-athletes, coaches and staff with all 28 of Merrimack’s varsity sports will be outfitted with high-performance New Balance apparel, footwear and accessories. The partnership also furthers New Balance’s foray into college football as the Merrimack College football team will be among the first Division I programs in the country to wear New Balance uniforms.
From home competitions at Duane Stadium, Lawler Arena and Martone-Mejail Field to away competitions across the country, this partnership will enhance the student-athlete experience at Merrimack, elevate the Warrior brand and bring together two institutions with deep ties to the Merrimack Valley.
“We are excited to partner with New Balance, a global brand with strong local ties that shares our values of excellence and community, and begin this new chapter for Merrimack Athletics,” said Joe Foley, Merrimack’s director of athletics. “As the Merrimack College brand continues to grow and our teams continue to compete at the highest level, it will do so with New Balance’s support, resources and high-quality, innovative products.”
“This partnership reflects New Balance’s long-standing commitment to providing best-in-class performance footwear and apparel for talented student-athletes,” said Doug Liberta, general manager, team sales at New Balance. “We are especially excited to have the opportunity to sponsor the Warriors’ 28 men’s and women’s Division 1 teams in the Merrimack Valley where we have operated facilities for more than 40 years.”
A member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Hockey East, Merrimack College has experienced tremendous success since its transition to Division I in 2019, including NCAA tournament berths (men’s hockey and women’s bowling), team conference championships (men’s basketball and women’s bowling), individual conference championships (women’s country), as well as Coach of the Year Awards, Player of the Year Awards and All-Academic Honors.
A $7.8 billion global sportswear brand with more than 12,000 associates and 3,200 retail locations worldwide, New Balance is recognized for its values-led culture and long-standing commitment to domestic manufacturing. Just up the road from Merrimack College’s campus in North Andover, Mass. is New Balance’s global design, and development and production center in Lawrence, as well as a second athletic footwear factory in Methuen.
Foley added he hopes to provide Merrimack student-athletes, coaches and staff with opportunities to visit the local New Balance facilities to engage with employees, learn more about the company’s storied history and identify ways to strategically enhance the partnership.
