IUSB Secures Record Jersey Sponsorship
The department-wide agreement with Central Midwest Carpenters marks a significant expansion for NAIA branding.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Basketball
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Indiana University South Bend has finalized a department-wide jersey sponsorship with the Central Midwest Carpenters. This deal represents the largest agreement of its kind among all institutions in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Why it matters
The deal signals a growing trend of corporate investment in smaller college athletic departments. As institutions seek new revenue, department-wide partnerships are becoming a key strategic priority.
Eight total institutions within the 250-member NAIA have now adopted department-wide jersey sponsorships. This figure follows the precedent set by Grace College, which completed the first such three-year agreement in 2024.
The players
Indiana University South Bend
This is a public university located in South Bend, Indiana, that competes within the NAIA.
Central Midwest Carpenters
This is a labor union that has entered into a department-wide jersey sponsorship agreement with IUSB Athletics.
Grace College
Located in Kosciusko County, this institution was the first college in the United States to secure a department-wide jersey sponsorship.
The details
The agreement covers athletic team uniforms across the entire IUSB athletic department. Branding from the Central Midwest Carpenters will be featured on uniforms for all sports teams.
Timeline
Grace College signed its own jersey sponsorship in 2024.
IUSB and Central Midwest Carpenters announced the partnership on October 12, 2026.
The IUSB women's volleyball team is scheduled to play the Viterbo V-Hawks on August 21, 2027.
Season Trajectory
This deal follows the precedent set by the 2024 Grace College department-wide jersey sponsorship. The addition of IUSB helps grow the total number of NAIA institutions with similar corporate partnerships to eight.
Athletic teams across the entire department will now feature the new branding on their uniforms. Fans and followers can expect to see the Central Midwest Carpenters logo displayed on game gear beginning with upcoming scheduled contests.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights how regional unions and smaller colleges are finding new ways to collaborate on branding and revenue. It serves as a benchmark for how other institutions might seek support in an evolving collegiate sports landscape.
What happens next
The IUSB women's volleyball team is scheduled to compete against the Viterbo V-Hawks on August 21, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in collegiate athletics on our Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC57.
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